Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of abolishing the Plastic Packaging Tax for food contact packaging where no safe, commercially viable recycled-content alternative is available.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) was introduced in April 2022 to provide a clear incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in packaging, thereby supporting increased recycling and reducing plastic waste.
At Budget 2025, the government announced businesses will be able to use a Mass Balance Approach (MBA) for the purposes of PPT from April 2027. This will enable chemically recycled plastic to qualify for the PPT exemption, which is suitable for food-grade packaging as it produces outputs equivalent to virgin plastic. Chemical recycling can provide a recycling route for plastic waste which is otherwise difficult to recycle using established, mechanical methods, such as plastic films.
Allowing a MBA for chemically recycled plastic will help to create the conditions for the emerging chemical recycling sector to thrive in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of food-safe recycled plastic and other compliant alternatives to virgin plastic packaging for food and drink businesses subject to the Plastic Packaging Tax.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) was introduced in April 2022 to provide a clear incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in packaging, thereby supporting increased recycling and reducing plastic waste.
At Budget 2025, the government announced businesses will be able to use a Mass Balance Approach (MBA) for the purposes of PPT from April 2027. This will enable chemically recycled plastic to qualify for the PPT exemption, which is suitable for food-grade packaging as it produces outputs equivalent to virgin plastic. Chemical recycling can provide a recycling route for plastic waste which is otherwise difficult to recycle using established, mechanical methods, such as plastic films.
Allowing a MBA for chemically recycled plastic will help to create the conditions for the emerging chemical recycling sector to thrive in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to postpone the introduction of modulated fees under Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging until measurable improvements have been delivered in local authority packaging collection and recycling systems.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As required under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, from 2026/27 onwards, The Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) fees will be modulated to ensure that packaging materials that are less recyclable incur higher fees, and packaging materials which are more recyclable incur lower fees. The fee modulation policy will be reviewed every 3 years. PackUK, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme administrator, is working closely with local authorities to ensure the efficient and effective management of household packaging waste.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have that the introduction of modulated Extended Producer Responsibility fees will improve packaging recycling rates in the absence of reform to local collection and recycling infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is part of this Government’s broader Collection and Packaging Reforms, including Simpler Recycling and the Deposit Return Scheme (due to launch in October 2027). These reforms together shift the financial burden of recycling household packaging from the public purse to producers and incentivise more efficient and effective recycling systems to push up levels of recycling across the country. The Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) funding from year 1 of the scheme has already been distributed to Local Authorities providing additional funding to deliver Simpler Recycling reforms across England, ensuring that people can recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school.
From year 2 of EPR (2026/27) onwards, fees will be modulated to ensure that packaging materials that are less recyclable incur higher fees and packaging materials which are more recyclable incur lower fees, incentivising industry to transition towards more recyclable material. PackUK, the EPR scheme administrator, is working closely with local authorities to ensure the efficient and effective management of household packaging waste.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Packaging Recovery Note system in investment in the UK recycling infrastructure and recycling rates; and whether they plan to reform or abolish that system.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) system has supported an increase in packaging waste recycling rates from 45% in 2003 to 64.7% in 2023 and has continued to support delivery of recycling targets.
The system generated £322m in revenue from the sale of PRN/PERNs in 2025. Reprocessors and exporters accredited to issue PRN/PERNs are required to report on how they have used this revenue to help build increased capacity across the recycling sector as part of their business plan.
A consultation on reforms to the PRN system has recently closed. Defra officials will review the responses and decide on next steps shortly.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether British Steel Ltd is balance-sheet solvent and cash-flow solvent, both including and excluding Government funding provided since 12 April 2025; and whether they will publish any such assessment.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish all ministerial directions issued in relation to British Steel Ltd under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025, including any directions concerning access to premises, accounting records, bank accounts, management information, insolvency proceedings, funding, trading decisions or relations with Jingye Group.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the CS01 confirmation statement filed by British Steel Ltd on 14 April 2026, stating that the company’s intended future activities were lawful, was filed with the prior knowledge, consent or direction of the Secretary of State; and whether the accuracy of that statement depended on any Government assurance, funding, direction or undertaking.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State has issued any direction under section 2(5)(d) of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 requiring British Steel Ltd, its directors, officers, creditors or any other person to refrain from taking proceedings under the Insolvency Act 1986 or otherwise in relation to the company or its steel undertaking.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the European Union regarding financial services as part of the UK-EU reset.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Strengthening our relationships with all international partners, including the EU, is a key focus of the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy.
The UK and EU both face the same challenges – delivering growth, renewal of our infrastructure and the green transition. Financial services are a key part of the solution. We want to work with the EU to ensure that firms and individuals across Europe are able to access much needed capital and investment as efficiently as possible.
This is the message the Chancellor has set out to EU Leaders, including at Eurogroup in December 2024, and reiterated in her Mansion House speech last July. This was also the message that the Economic Secretary to the Treasury shared when she met with European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque in Brussels in January.