Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to change the packaging producer responsibility system to reduce duplication between Extended Producer Responsibility, Packaging Recovery Notes and the Pla
Answer
Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging, recycling obligations through PRNs and PERNs, and the Plastic Packaging Tax have distinct purposes. The Government recognises the importance of considering how these measures interact and minimising avoidable complexity. Defra continues to work with HM Treasury, HMRC, and businesses on the packaging framework.33% vibes
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The question asked whether the Government will address overlap between the packaging EPR scheme, PRN/PERN evidence certificates and the Plastic Packaging Tax. The reply partly answers this by explaining that each measure serves a different purpose, but it does not say whether the Department intends to change the system. Its other statements, that the Government recognises the importance of reducing complexity and continues to work with HM Treasury, HMRC and businesses, are general and contain no concrete reform or timetable. The asker would likely need to ask again for a firm position on whether any change is planned.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Department plans to change the packaging producer responsibility system to reduce duplication between Extended Producer Responsibility, Packaging Recovery Notes and the third regime named in the question, which appears to be the Plastic Packaging Tax (the question text is truncated). | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply implicitly argues that EPR, PRNs/PERNs and the Plastic Packaging Tax serve distinct purposes, which partly answers the duplication concern, but it never states whether the Department plans to change the system. Its remaining statements, that the Government 'recognises the importance' of minimising complexity and that Defra 'continues to work with' HMT, HMRC and businesses, are general gestures with no concrete reform, timetable or commitment attached. |