§ Miss BeggTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of the review of the operation of the Packaging Waste Recovery Note system to demonstrate compliance with the Packaging Regulations. [80171]
§ Mr. MacdonaldI have considered the conclusions of the Advisory Committee on Packaging together with representations made in the course of the review of the Regulations. Obligated parties are keen to see greater transparency in reprocessors' treatment of Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) revenue so that they know that the resources they are putting in are being used as intended. I therefore propose the following changes to the PRN system in Scotland
(i) that as a condition of accreditation, reprocessors should provide an annual return to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) showing PRN revenue for the previous year; the proportion of PRN revenue that has been passed to others to develop the collection infrastructure; and what proportion was directed at either developing reprocessing capacity or at developing end-use markets for recycled materials. Details 799W should also be provided as to what additional capacity is planned and what steps have been taken to develop markets for recyclate.(ii) that PRNs should be issued to obligated parties only or to those representing them. In addition, individual businesses who are obligated members of the packaging chain and bring waste for reprocessing, should be given first refusal on the PRN when such waste is accepted for reprocessing.Reprocessors should therefore make reasonable forward provision for such obligated parties who wish to have PRNs, and I would expect the obligated parties also to do what they can to ensure that the reprocessors are informed as soon as possible about their PRN requirements.
I will be asking SEPA to amend their Guidance Note to reflect these changes.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.