Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
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 of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme on businesses in (a) reducing the level of unnecessary packaging, (b) increasing the level of recyclable materials and (c) increasing the redesign of products to improve the recyclability; and if she will set out the evidence used to make those assessments.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government assessed Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) through the 2024 impact assessment. pEPR incentivises businesses to reduce unnecessary packaging, increase recyclable materials and improve packaging design by making producers responsible for household packaging waste management costs. From 2026, fees will be modulated using PackUK’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology, with less recyclable packaging attracting higher fees and more recyclable packaging attracting lower fees. Evidence includes the impact assessment, producer-reported data, local authority cost modelling, and extensive consultation and engagement. PackUK’s forthcoming five-year strategy will detail how environmental benefits, including packaging reduction and recycling quality and quantity, will be tracked.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the prevalence of nitrous oxide misuse among people aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 24 and (c) over 24 years.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are taking a coordinated approach across Government to tackle the supply and misuse of illegal drugs. This includes law enforcement activity, engagement with technology companies, education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring online platforms to take responsibility for content on their platforms.
Since November 2023, Nitrous Oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the 1971 Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import and export nitrous oxide. Illicit possession and supply carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and 14 years’ imprisonment respectively. Guidance and the circular relating to the ban can be found here: 006/2023: Control of nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (accessible) - GOV.UK. There are no plans to update this.
The police and other law enforcement agencies are operationally independent, but we expect them to prioritise resources towards tackling crime, including drug-related crime, with a focus on those offences that cause the most harm. Enforcement activity on nitrous oxide has increased. In the year ending March 2025, Police and Border Force made 6,223 seizures of nitrous oxide in England and Wales, the highest number recorded since the time series began in year ending March 2018.
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. Data is not available for the 18–24-year-old group specifically, but data relating to 16-24-year-olds shows that 1.3% reported using nitrous oxide in the year ending March 2025. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here:
The Online Safety Act 2023 places clear legal duties on online platforms to implement systems and processes that prevent users from encountering illegal content (which would include illegal drugs sales online) and to ensure that such content is swiftly removed once they become aware of it. Ofcom is monitoring compliance and can take enforcement action including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue (whichever is greater). In the most serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order to block a site in the UK.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the prohibition on nitrous oxide in reducing anti-social behaviour associated with its misuse.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are taking a coordinated approach across Government to tackle the supply and misuse of illegal drugs. This includes law enforcement activity, engagement with technology companies, education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring online platforms to take responsibility for content on their platforms.
Since November 2023, Nitrous Oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the 1971 Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import and export nitrous oxide. Illicit possession and supply carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and 14 years’ imprisonment respectively. Guidance and the circular relating to the ban can be found here: 006/2023: Control of nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (accessible) - GOV.UK. There are no plans to update this.
The police and other law enforcement agencies are operationally independent, but we expect them to prioritise resources towards tackling crime, including drug-related crime, with a focus on those offences that cause the most harm. Enforcement activity on nitrous oxide has increased. In the year ending March 2025, Police and Border Force made 6,223 seizures of nitrous oxide in England and Wales, the highest number recorded since the time series began in year ending March 2018.
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. Data is not available for the 18–24-year-old group specifically, but data relating to 16-24-year-olds shows that 1.3% reported using nitrous oxide in the year ending March 2025. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here:
The Online Safety Act 2023 places clear legal duties on online platforms to implement systems and processes that prevent users from encountering illegal content (which would include illegal drugs sales online) and to ensure that such content is swiftly removed once they become aware of it. Ofcom is monitoring compliance and can take enforcement action including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue (whichever is greater). In the most serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order to block a site in the UK.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the administrative cost of operating the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to (a) Government, (b) PackUK, (c) local authorities and (d) obligated producers; what assessment she has made of the accuracy of producer data submitted during the first year of the scheme; and what steps she is taking to improve the accuracy of future fee calculations.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The 2024 impact assessment assessed Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) administrative impacts, including producer reporting costs. PackUK is responsible for operating the scheme on behalf of the four UK nations. PackUK administration costs for 2025/26 were £18 million. Local authority payments for 2025/26 were £1.43 billion, covering the efficient costs of managing household packaging waste. Environmental regulators monitor and assure producer compliance and data accuracy. Defra, PackUK, and regulators are improving future fee calculations using refined guidance and calculations, and strengthening compliance activity, which has brought almost 1,800 additional obligated producers into compliance.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what total funding has been allocated to each local authority in England through the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme; whether that funding is required to be ringfenced for waste collection and recycling services; what mechanisms are in place to monitor expenditure; and what assessment she has made of whether the funding has been used for the purposes for which it was intended.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has published allocations for each English local authority. Local authorities in England are expected to receive around £1.1 billion through Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR). pEPR payments are intended to fund efficient and effective household packaging waste management and recycling. The Secretary of State has instructed PackUK to use its regulatory powers to ensure funding is spent for those purposes. PackUK can require information on expenditure, recover funding if it is not used as intended, and can reduce future payments in cases where authorities fail to provide an effective service.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the additional water storage capacity that will be required in the West Midlands over the next 20 years to meet projected population growth and climate change pressures.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through its water resources management plan, Severn Trent Water has selected a new West Midlands raw water storage reservoir to provide 32.5 million litres per day from 2040 onwards. This is expected to use an existing quarry site to abstract and hold higher flows from the River Severn.
Severn Trent have considered multiple reservoir enlargements. It is due to finish its Draycote reservoir expansion later this year, holding an additional 1.4 million cubic meters – an extra 9 million litres per day. By 2050 it plans to expand Tittesworth reservoir and Whitacre Minor dam – a further 17 million litres per day.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to increase water storage capacity in the West Midlands through the construction of new reservoirs or other strategic water infrastructure.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through its water resources management plan, Severn Trent Water has selected a new West Midlands raw water storage reservoir to provide 32.5 million litres per day from 2040 onwards. This is expected to use an existing quarry site to abstract and hold higher flows from the River Severn.
Severn Trent have considered multiple reservoir enlargements. It is due to finish its Draycote reservoir expansion later this year, holding an additional 1.4 million cubic meters – an extra 9 million litres per day. By 2050 it plans to expand Tittesworth reservoir and Whitacre Minor dam – a further 17 million litres per day.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the availability of nitrous oxide canisters through social media platforms and online marketplaces; and what discussions she has had with those platforms on removing content promoting their unlawful recreational use.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are taking a coordinated approach across Government to tackle the supply and misuse of illegal drugs. This includes law enforcement activity, engagement with technology companies, education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring online platforms to take responsibility for content on their platforms.
Since November 2023, Nitrous Oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the 1971 Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import and export nitrous oxide. Illicit possession and supply carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and 14 years’ imprisonment respectively. Guidance and the circular relating to the ban can be found here: 006/2023: Control of nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (accessible) - GOV.UK. There are no plans to update this.
The police and other law enforcement agencies are operationally independent, but we expect them to prioritise resources towards tackling crime, including drug-related crime, with a focus on those offences that cause the most harm. Enforcement activity on nitrous oxide has increased. In the year ending March 2025, Police and Border Force made 6,223 seizures of nitrous oxide in England and Wales, the highest number recorded since the time series began in year ending March 2018.
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. Data is not available for the 18–24-year-old group specifically, but data relating to 16-24-year-olds shows that 1.3% reported using nitrous oxide in the year ending March 2025. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here:
The Online Safety Act 2023 places clear legal duties on online platforms to implement systems and processes that prevent users from encountering illegal content (which would include illegal drugs sales online) and to ensure that such content is swiftly removed once they become aware of it. Ofcom is monitoring compliance and can take enforcement action including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue (whichever is greater). In the most serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order to block a site in the UK.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with online marketplaces and retailers on preventing the sale of nitrous oxide canisters where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they are intended for unlawful recreational use.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are taking a coordinated approach across Government to tackle the supply and misuse of illegal drugs. This includes law enforcement activity, engagement with technology companies, education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring online platforms to take responsibility for content on their platforms.
Since November 2023, Nitrous Oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the 1971 Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import and export nitrous oxide. Illicit possession and supply carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and 14 years’ imprisonment respectively. Guidance and the circular relating to the ban can be found here: 006/2023: Control of nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (accessible) - GOV.UK. There are no plans to update this.
The police and other law enforcement agencies are operationally independent, but we expect them to prioritise resources towards tackling crime, including drug-related crime, with a focus on those offences that cause the most harm. Enforcement activity on nitrous oxide has increased. In the year ending March 2025, Police and Border Force made 6,223 seizures of nitrous oxide in England and Wales, the highest number recorded since the time series began in year ending March 2018.
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. Data is not available for the 18–24-year-old group specifically, but data relating to 16-24-year-olds shows that 1.3% reported using nitrous oxide in the year ending March 2025. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here:
The Online Safety Act 2023 places clear legal duties on online platforms to implement systems and processes that prevent users from encountering illegal content (which would include illegal drugs sales online) and to ensure that such content is swiftly removed once they become aware of it. Ofcom is monitoring compliance and can take enforcement action including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue (whichever is greater). In the most serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order to block a site in the UK.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which retailers continue to sell nitrous oxide canisters for unlawful recreational use; and what steps her Department is taking to prevent such sales.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are taking a coordinated approach across Government to tackle the supply and misuse of illegal drugs. This includes law enforcement activity, engagement with technology companies, education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring online platforms to take responsibility for content on their platforms.
Since November 2023, Nitrous Oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the 1971 Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import and export nitrous oxide. Illicit possession and supply carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and 14 years’ imprisonment respectively. Guidance and the circular relating to the ban can be found here: 006/2023: Control of nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (accessible) - GOV.UK. There are no plans to update this.
The police and other law enforcement agencies are operationally independent, but we expect them to prioritise resources towards tackling crime, including drug-related crime, with a focus on those offences that cause the most harm. Enforcement activity on nitrous oxide has increased. In the year ending March 2025, Police and Border Force made 6,223 seizures of nitrous oxide in England and Wales, the highest number recorded since the time series began in year ending March 2018.
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. Data is not available for the 18–24-year-old group specifically, but data relating to 16-24-year-olds shows that 1.3% reported using nitrous oxide in the year ending March 2025. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here:
The Online Safety Act 2023 places clear legal duties on online platforms to implement systems and processes that prevent users from encountering illegal content (which would include illegal drugs sales online) and to ensure that such content is swiftly removed once they become aware of it. Ofcom is monitoring compliance and can take enforcement action including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue (whichever is greater). In the most serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order to block a site in the UK.