Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's planned timescale is for the (a) consultation and (b) review of F gas regulations.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We undertook a joint review of the GB F gas Regulation and published our assessment report in December 2022 (available online). We are now in the process of developing policy proposals for reform and intend to consult on these in due course.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on its review into the environmental impact of disposable vapes.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
There have been no meetings held between the Defra ministers and Scottish Ministers, so far. However, there are plans to hold discussions on this area in the near future.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as part of her Department’s work to design and implement a Deposit Return Scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, whether it has made an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) radio frequency identification tagging and (b) barcodes to support the introduction of a Digital Deposit Return Scheme.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Whilst some parts of industry are exploring the potential of a Digital DRS, a scalable technical solution does not currently exist for this type of model, and will not for a number of years. Therefore, we are currently delivering a Deposit Return Scheme that follows the ‘return to retail’ model as used internationally in other DRS’s. We do recognise the benefits of a digital model and remain encouraged and interested in seeing the continued testing of the feasibility for introducing a digital scheme in the future. Should other opportunities for innovation emerge, we believe that the scheme will be able to evolve and adapt in line with the lifespan of the original infrastructure.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of using flexible semiconductors in food waste packaging.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
We welcome industry initiatives to help reduce waste through packaging solutions although there is no specific work in this area.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
What steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in tackling (a) littering and (b) fly-tipping.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
In recent years, we have bolstered local authorities’ powers to tackle litter and fly-tipping. We have increased and introduced new penalties for littering and fly-tipping and given councils the power to stop and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. We also continue to campaign to raise awareness of the impacts of littering to support behaviour change and we are providing funding of just under a million pounds to help 44 local authorities purchase new litter bins.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice Public Health England has given on the introduction of a deposit returns scheme following the covid-19 outbreak on the (a) manual handling of scheme materials, and (b) the operation of reverse vending machines; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. Since consulting on its introduction in 2019, we have been developing proposals for a DRS using further evidence and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. We are liaising with Public Health England (PHE) to consider any impact that Covid-19 may have on the development of a DRS for drinks containers. Advice from PHE will be considered in the development of proposals, which will be presented in a second consultation in early 2021.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of deposit return schemes on (a) health and safety and (b) hygiene in the retail sector.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government will shortly launch its consultation on the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in England. An impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation, which assesses the social and economic costs and benefits of introducing a DRS, including the impact that a DRS will have on small retailers.
Consideration for small retailers will be included in our consultation. We will also take into account the wider effects of a DRS on the retail sector when we consult.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has assessed the potential merits of exempting small retailers from the deposit return scheme.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government will shortly launch its consultation on the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in England. An impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation, which assesses the social and economic costs and benefits of introducing a DRS, including the impact that a DRS will have on small retailers.
Consideration for small retailers will be included in our consultation. We will also take into account the wider effects of a DRS on the retail sector when we consult.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the proposed deposit return scheme on small retailers.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government will shortly launch its consultation on the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in England. An impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation, which assesses the social and economic costs and benefits of introducing a DRS, including the impact that a DRS will have on small retailers.
Consideration for small retailers will be included in our consultation. We will also take into account the wider effects of a DRS on the retail sector when we consult.
Asked by: Mark Pawsey (Conservative - Rugby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has estimated the cost of introducing a deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government will shortly launch its consultation on the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in England. An impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation, which assesses the social and economic costs and benefits of introducing a DRS, including the impact that a DRS will have on small retailers.
Consideration for small retailers will be included in our consultation. We will also take into account the wider effects of a DRS on the retail sector when we consult.