To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount was spent by his Department on copier paper in each of the last three years; and what assessment he has made of the value for money obtained by his Department when purchasing copier paper.

[133154]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount was spent by his Department on copier paper in each of the last three years; and what assessment he has made of the value for money obtained by his Department when purchasing copier paper.

[133154]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was (1) the total expenditure, excluding value added tax, on photocopier paper, and (2) the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80gsm photocopier paper, by (a) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and (b)...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was (1) the total expenditure, excluding value added tax, on photocopier paper, and (2) the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80gsm photocopier paper, by (a) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and (b)...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total expenditure on photocopier paper, excluding value added tax, in the latest year for which figures are available, by (1) the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and (2) each of its executive agencies; and what was the average purchase...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total expenditure on photocopier paper, excluding value added tax, in the latest year for which figures are available, by (1) the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and (2) each of its executive agencies; and what was the average purchase...

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, these regulations seek to set new recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste for 2013 to 2017.

Packaging performs an important role. Last year 11 million tonnes of packaging were used in the United Kingdom to get products from where they were produced to where they were consumed with...

My Lords, these regulations seek to set new recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste for 2013 to 2017.

Packaging performs an important role. Last year 11 million tonnes of packaging were used in the United Kingdom to get products from where they were produced to where they were consumed with...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for explaining so clearly the purpose of these regulations. I suspect that over the past couple of weeks he has had to undergo something of a crash course in recycling and the associated functions that go with it. Later I will...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for explaining so clearly the purpose of these regulations. I suspect that over the past couple of weeks he has had to undergo something of a crash course in recycling and the associated functions that go with it. Later I will...

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend for introducing these draft regulations and setting out the objectives that he and his department seek to achieve. I preface my remarks by declaring an interest as a non-executive director of British Polythene Industries, Europe’s largest manufacturer and recycler of polythene products....

My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend for introducing these draft regulations and setting out the objectives that he and his department seek to achieve. I preface my remarks by declaring an interest as a non-executive director of British Polythene Industries, Europe’s largest manufacturer and recycler of polythene products....

My Lords, given the debate so far, the Minister might be pleased to know that we support these regulations which build on the 2007 regulations brought in by the last Government. Obviously we are mindful of the impact assessment on the estimate that £400 million-worth of overall benefits have derived...

My Lords, given the debate so far, the Minister might be pleased to know that we support these regulations which build on the 2007 regulations brought in by the last Government. Obviously we are mindful of the impact assessment on the estimate that £400 million-worth of overall benefits have derived...

Perhaps I may remind the noble Lord that the policy produced by the industry—the Plastics 2020 Challenge—continues to 2020. The industry would ensure by then that nothing will go to landfill.

Perhaps I may remind the noble Lord that the policy produced by the industry—the Plastics 2020 Challenge—continues to 2020. The industry would ensure by then that nothing will go to landfill.

In making that comment, the noble Lord reinforces his point that engagement with the industry is a wise course, alongside engagement with the recycling industry, which stands to gain more business and more employment as a result of these regulations.

In making that comment, the noble Lord reinforces his point that engagement with the industry is a wise course, alongside engagement with the recycling industry, which stands to gain more business and more employment as a result of these regulations.

My Lords, I start by thanking noble Lords for taking the time to get into this very complicated subject and to debate these important issues today. I listened very carefully to the points made, including two very specific concerns about aspects of the regulations, and will try to answer as...

My Lords, I start by thanking noble Lords for taking the time to get into this very complicated subject and to debate these important issues today. I listened very carefully to the points made, including two very specific concerns about aspects of the regulations, and will try to answer as...

Does the Minister think that the two trade associations whose representatives he met, the British Plastics Federation and the Packaging and Films Association, represent only a small part of the industry? That is not the impression they gave me.

Does the Minister think that the two trade associations whose representatives he met, the British Plastics Federation and the Packaging and Films Association, represent only a small part of the industry? That is not the impression they gave me.

My Lords, the calculations I have been given indicate what I have just stated. Furthermore, I understand that there were opposing views even among the members of those associations who responded to the consultation. I do not argue with the fact that there has been opposition and that it is...

My Lords, the calculations I have been given indicate what I have just stated. Furthermore, I understand that there were opposing views even among the members of those associations who responded to the consultation. I do not argue with the fact that there has been opposition and that it is...

I have a question about the Advisory Committee on Packaging. It used to be an arm’s-length body, but after the review it was taken into Defra. I think that this Committee would find it valuable to know what opposition was expressed within that committee. Is the Minister willing to publish...

I have a question about the Advisory Committee on Packaging. It used to be an arm’s-length body, but after the review it was taken into Defra. I think that this Committee would find it valuable to know what opposition was expressed within that committee. Is the Minister willing to publish...

If I may, I shall come to the advisory committee later in the debate.

My noble friend Lord Jenkin referred to his concerns about the achievability of the targets. I shall go into some detail on that because I think it will be helpful to noble Lords. The 42% recycling rate...

If I may, I shall come to the advisory committee later in the debate.

My noble friend Lord Jenkin referred to his concerns about the achievability of the targets. I shall go into some detail on that because I think it will be helpful to noble Lords. The 42% recycling rate...

Does the Minister not recognise that with that additional amount put in, it will simply be a question of counting it? It will not get any more, because it is very nearly complete. A vast quantity of the commercial and industrial plastic weight is already being dealt with. Therefore, how...

Does the Minister not recognise that with that additional amount put in, it will simply be a question of counting it? It will not get any more, because it is very nearly complete. A vast quantity of the commercial and industrial plastic weight is already being dealt with. Therefore, how...

All I am suggesting is that, as a contributor to the target, there is 70,000 tonnes or thereabouts available which is not currently being counted.

All I am suggesting is that, as a contributor to the target, there is 70,000 tonnes or thereabouts available which is not currently being counted.

It is happening.

It is happening.

It is happening, but it is not counted in the current targets: that is the point. Of course, we will need to look at other plastics streams.

It is happening, but it is not counted in the current targets: that is the point. Of course, we will need to look at other plastics streams.

It is a mockery.

It is a mockery.