Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the impairment fee under the extended producer responsibility scheme on future impairment costs.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The impairment provision is based on the bad debt experience of Defra with charging schemes that are most similar to pEPR, whilst taking into consideration the large values of some of our Notice of Liabilities. It will be subject to regular review based on past, current and future customer payment behaviours. To minimise the impairment and provide transparency, PackUK intends to collect debt rigorously but fairly and will review the impairment provision at least quarterly.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered implementing new terms of reference for the Hospitality Sector Council to include a) ensuring early-stage discussion with Government departments and b) fully integrating the growth strategy, tourism strategy, high street strategy and small business strategy.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the hospitality sector’s vital contribution to growth, tourism, high streets and small businesses. To support this, the Hospitality Sector Council (HSC) was established to co-create solutions and deliver the Hospitality Strategy. The Council works closely with other Government departments, including DCMS, and industry representatives to ensure the sector’s needs are well represented and to maintain a coherent vision for driving growth across multiple strategies. Its Terms of Reference already enable early engagement on strategic issues and alignment with wider Government priorities

While the sector is integral to growth, high streets and small businesses – these all depend of course on more than just the hospitality sector. However, I would like to assure you that during the development of these strategies the sector’s needs and concerns were fully represented.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered the potential merits of integrating the growth strategy, tourism strategy, high street strategy and small business strategy with the Hospitality Sector Council’s strategy.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the hospitality sector’s vital contribution to growth, tourism, high streets and small businesses. To support this, the Hospitality Sector Council (HSC) was established to co-create solutions and deliver the Hospitality Strategy. The Council works closely with other Government departments, including DCMS, and industry representatives to ensure the sector’s needs are well represented and to maintain a coherent vision for driving growth across multiple strategies. Its Terms of Reference already enable early engagement on strategic issues and alignment with wider Government priorities

While the sector is integral to growth, high streets and small businesses – these all depend of course on more than just the hospitality sector. However, I would like to assure you that during the development of these strategies the sector’s needs and concerns were fully represented.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact that the impairment fee applied under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme will have on business cashflow and financial stability.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Incorporating impairment provisions for bad debt in a cost recovery scheme is an expected consideration of Government as detailed in Managing Public Money guidelines and is common practice when setting fees. Whilst Notice of Liabilities issued under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme are due for payment after 50 calendar days, liable producers have the facility to pay in quarterly instalments. These impairment provisions can only be used for specific purposes and will be subject to regular scrutiny and review. Where the impairment provision isn’t fully utilised, liable producers will be given a refund.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has held discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the impairment fee on financial pressures on the British brewing sector.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Incorporating impairment provisions for bad debt in a cost recovery scheme is an expected consideration of Government as detailed in Managing Public Money guidelines and is common practice when setting fees. Additionally, Managing Public Money guidelines advise that cross subsidies are not standard practice.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Found: I am copying this letter to Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Found: I am copying this letter to Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Found: Current membership Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour; Gower) (Chair) Dan Aldridge (Labour; Weston-super-Mare)

Found: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Tonia Antoniazzi

Found: Belfast BT1 4GF E: correspondence@nio.gov.uk www.gov.uk/nio Follow us on X: @NIOgov Tonia Antoniazzi

Found: Formal minutes Wednesday 20 March 2019 Members present: Mrs Maria Miller, in the Chair Tonia Antoniazzi