Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

Lord Addington Excerpts

Wednesday 17th November 2010 Grand Committee

Finally, I hope the Minister will set his face against those who somehow think that it is an imposition on British industry to do better in environmental matters than the rest of Europe. One of the things we are up against is that the European Union, of which I am a passionate supporter, is slow in putting all this right, so we are in position in which we can do this. It is a pity that we have not set an example and that we have not moved as we should have. I hope my noble friend will give a commitment to try this. If he is right, I shall be happy to come back on a suitable occasion and say, “Mea culpa. I was wrong; the expert was faulty and the onlooker saw more of the game”. I would be as humble as he would wish me to be. In return, if it turns out that there is a serious diminution in the provision for recycling, and if there is a clear sign that local authorities are finding things more difficult than before, I hope he will give a commitment to come back to the House and lay a new order.

[Lord Addington]

My Lords, after the last speech I feel that I am treading on someone else’s carpet. It was an extremely interesting intervention and both my noble friends should be encouraged to continue talking about the questions raised. If there is a danger that the incentive to carry on will be removed, given the expertise here we should consider that matter. If allies of long standing, new allies and all those who are interested in the field say that there is a danger here, perhaps the Minister can give an assurance that the Government will keep a weather eye on the situation. I would be reassured by that commitment.

It is more reassuring when you hear from someone who genuinely knows what they are talking about; not a parliamentary expert, which is how I interpret someone who has merely spoken on the subject three times, but someone who knows something about it. I hope the noble Lord, Lord Henley, will say that the Government are watching the situation and monitoring these concerns, because if we cannot have a broad church on environmental matters we should give up and go home now.

[Lord Henley]

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Quin, teased me at the beginning of her remarks that I had possibly over-attacked her at Question Time yesterday on the subject of conservation, and I wonder whether I possibly over-egged my remarks. Perhaps I was provoked by the noble Baroness; I am not sure. I accept that her Government consulted effectively on some occasions and I hope she will accept that, when we consult, we consult genuinely and with a real intention to listen. She asked what interest was shown. I can assure her that we had 96 responses from local authorities, producers and trade associations, and that the consultation covered the usual 12 weeks. I hope I can say that we consulted enough; that, as far as one ever can, we got to everyone it was necessary to get to, although one can never guarantee that; and that we covered as many SMEs or their representatives as possible. Very often, SMEs do not have time to respond themselves but have representatives who can.