Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging fees on (a) food and (b) drink costs.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Department has assessed the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on both producers and consumers, including the potential effect on the affordability of food and drink. This assessment is included in Section 8 of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

We are closely monitoring the potential impact of these costs on consumer prices and remain committed to balancing environmental goals with economic considerations.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Outcomes from Nature COP16, Cali, Colombia of 6 November 2024, HCWS196, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) increase funding to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund and (b) join the Legacy Landscapes Fund.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

At COP16, the UK pledged an additional financial contribution of £45 million to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund to help countries across the globe to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The UK also continues to encourage other countries and non-sovereign organisations to provide financial contributions.

In December 2024, Defra joined the Legacy Landscapes Fund as a donor and has so far invested just over £10 million, helping to protect biodiversity, promote climate resilience and foster equitable development in some of the world’s most outstanding landscapes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to meet commitments to contribute to the global target of $30 billion a year in international financial resources for biodiversity by 2030 under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Global Biodiversity Framework, working to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The Government recognises the importance of the collective global target of mobilising at least $30 billion per year in international financial resources for biodiversity, part of the broader commitment to mobilise $200 billion per year from all sources of finance by 2030.

The Government continues to support developing countries on climate and nature action through the UK’s International Climate Finance. We will set out our spending plans for future years following the completion of the Spending Review and departmental resource allocation processes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on (a) the design of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging and (b) its interaction with wider economic and fiscal policy.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to moving towards a circular economy that delivers sustainable growth. Implementing the Collection and Packaging Reforms, including the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging is a critical step in this transition and will create a substantial incentive for investment in new and improved recycling services in the UK.

HM Treasury is working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the lead department, on the delivery of these reforms.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions in levels of Official Development Assistance spending on levels of funding for (a) the Darwin Initiative, (b) the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and (c) Darwin Plus.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

No decisions have been made regarding future levels of funding for the Darwin Initiative, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, or Darwin Plus. Defra will allocate budgets to its Official Development Assistance programmes for future Financial Years after Defra receives its Multi-Year Spending Review settlement.

The UK has a strong and pioneering record in overseas development and will continue to play a vital humanitarian role in crises such as those in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza, while tackling global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss.

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 potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging on SME beverage producers.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In October 2024 the Government published a final impact assessment on the pEPR scheme. The impact assessment did not look at the specific impacts of the pEPR scheme on individual sectors.

The Government recognises the importance of protecting small producers from direct cost obligations. This is why the regulations include a de-minimis threshold of £2 million turnover and 50 tonnes which exempts approximately 70% of the producers supplying packaging in the UK from paying scheme fees.

Found: With best regards, Mr Toby Perkins MP Chair, Environmental Audit Committee

Found: 3 of 5 (60.0%) Sarah Owen (Labour, Luton North) (added 4 Dec 2024) 4 of 5 (80.0%) Mr Toby Perkins

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner

Found: In a hearing of that Committee, Toby Perkins MP stated that Defra was showing a ‘pattern’ of poor parliamentary

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Barry Gardiner

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Barry Gardiner

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns

Found: ” _87 Dame Meg Hillier Liam Byrne Bill Esterson Mr Toby Perkins Mr Alistair Carmichael Florence