The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has launched an
inquiry into how to manage UK-wide waste management issues to
promote recycling, encourage trade and respect the devolved
rights of the four home nations – England, Northern Ireland,
Scotland and Wales.
In a complex legal scenario, the Government is drawing up common
sets of UK-wide processes to facilitate trade and other
relationships between parts of the UK which may have different
arrangements under devolved powers. These common processes are
known in the jargon as ‘Common Frameworks’
The importance of developing effective Common Frameworks is
illustrated by a potential problem between the UK and Scottish
Governments.
The Scottish Government has proposed a bottle deposit return
scheme due to be introduced this year. Under the scheme, people
in Scotland will pay a returnable deposit when buying beverages
in certain single-use drinks containers
However, the UK Government may reportedly try to block the scheme
because it is not in line with rules under the UK-wide Internal
Market Act, which makes it easier for businesses to sell products
and services across the four home nations. This dispute has
created the potential for what has been described as a possible
“constitutional row”.
If there were different deposit return schemes in the various
home nations it might discourage cross-border beverage sales or
cause other complications for consumers, businesses and waste
management.
An effective Common Framework could help resolve such disputes in
the future, making it easier for consumers and businesses to buy,
sell and dispose of products – including, for example, used
bottles – in different parts of the UK.
Chair's comments
The Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee,
Sir MP, said:
“Recycling bottles – glass or plastic – through a deposit return
scheme is obviously a good idea. It reduces litter and helps us
have a more self-sustaining economy.
So I hope we can come to a common-sense agreement that also
respects legitimate desires for some devolved decision-making –
not only on this bottle deposit scheme but on other waste issues
as well.
We must avoid a situation where beverages can’t be moved freely
across the Scottish border or that is confusing for people living
close to the border”.
Bottle return schemes are only one example of areas affected by
the Framework. For a fuller explanation of its scope
please click here
Call for evidence
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is seeking
views on the potential impact and effectiveness of the Resources
and Waste provisional Common Framework.
People and organisations with expertise or experience in the
areas covered by the inquiry are invited to submit written
evidence. For advice on how to submit this and how we use the
information, please click here.
The deadline for written submissions is Friday 5 May 2023.
Terms of reference for inquiry
The Committee would like to gather stakeholder opinion on the
potential effectiveness of the Resources and Waste provisional
Common Framework as well as its impact on the UK internal market
and organisations in England.
We invite submissions answering the following questions, thinking
specifically about the impact on organisations that either work
solely in England, or in England and one or more of the devolved
nations:
- Are the processes outlined in this provisional Common
Framework for Resources and Waste sensible or will they present
any practical challenges or unnecessary burdens for stakeholders?
- Will the Common Framework strike the right balance between
enabling “the functioning of the UK market” while also allowing
for policy divergence and enabling the UK to enter into and
implement international agreements?
- Should the Common Framework set out further policy detail and
if so, where?
- What risks are posed by policy divergence in resources and
waste policy and does this Common Framework address these
concerns?
- Will the Common Framework help the UK move towards a circular
economy for its waste and resources?
- Are there any other notable observations relating to the
content of the framework that may warrant Committee scrutiny,
including any proposed changes or additions to the framework?
The deadline for submissions (that may cover some or all of the
above points) is Friday 5 May 2023. Submit
your written evidence here
