To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is proposing to tackle the devices used by companies to avoid making contributions under the packaging waste regulations; and if he will make a statement. [76382]
The Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have a duty to monitor compliance with the packaging Regulations. In the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 335–37, I welcomed the efforts being made by the Agencies to strengthen their enforcement programmes and I understand that the Environment Agency has started the process for taking proceedings against a number of companies which failed to register in 1998.
I also said that I would be asking the Agencies to publish their monitoring programmes and report half-yearly as to the number, size and sector of businesses checked for registration, data provision and for compliance with the recovery and recycling obligations.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received over his proposed changes to the share out of the percentage activity obligations within the packaging industry; and what plans he has to review the percentages. [76383]
As I stated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 335–37, my Department will very shortly be issuing a consultation document on the proposed changes to the percentage activity obligations. All responses to the document will then be taken into consideration.