§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she intends to consult on the UK's 2004 packaging waste recycling targets; [91494]
(2) what preliminary assessment she has made of the likely packaging waste recycling targets required for 2004 to enable the UK to comply with the most likely minimum targets expected to be set; [91496]
(3) when she intends to announce the UK packaging waste recovery targets (a) for 2004 and (b) for 2005. [91495]
§ Mr. MeacherI expect the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) to provide the Government with advice on their views on the possible targets in the UK between 2004 and 2008. I know that an ACP Task Force is currently looking at future targets, including targets for 2004. We are aiming to consult on a number of packaging issues this year, including targets for the period 2004–08. We would propose to announce the targets as early as possible, with a view to providing long-term targets to aid stability in the PRN market and future investment, but this will have to await the outcome of our consultation exercise.