§ Mr. Tony Durantasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the formation of the Packaging Council and the packaging code of conduct.
§ Mr. John FraserThe creation of the Packaging Council and the appointment of its first Chairman, Lord Shepherd, was announced on 16th May. The Council is an independent body. Its members are drawn from industry, consumer and environment groups and the trade union movement and it has been set up following770W discussions between environment and consumer groups and industry under the Government's Waste Management Advisory Council. Initial finance for the work of the Council will be provided by the Industry Committee for Packaging and the Environment—INCPEN—with assistance for technical research from the Packaging Industry Research Association. The Council will administer a code for the packaging of consumer goods as a basis for good packaging practice in the United Kingdom. The Council will ensure that comments and complaints about packaging are dealt with responsibly; and will itself be prepared to examine and assist when problems arise.