§ Mr. IrvingTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he is taking to encourage distributors of glass and plastic bottles and containers to mark each with a deposit charge, to be returnable, to reduce litter, broken glass and waste.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Government consider that the use of deposit schemes should be decided by producers and distributors in the light of their assessment of the market implications. The Government welcome schemes such as bottle banks for the collection and recycling of consumer waste. As a direct result of a commitment conference I chaired on glass recycling, the glass industry and local authorities gave an undertaking to double the number of bottle banks in the five years from 1986.