Written questions by Rand.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will consider the potential merits of more closely linking the Extended Producer Responsibility system to business profitability instead of packaging volume.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extended producer responsibility regulations on the costs of (a) reporting, (b) compliance and (c) other matters for (i) smaller and (ii) all breweries using (A) bottles and (B) cans.

A full impact assessment of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 is available. Impact on wider producers is covered in Section 8 of that impact assessment. Around 70% of producers, including many smaller breweries, are exempt from paying Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees due to thresholds of £2 million turnover and 50 tonnes of packaging. Businesses with turnover over £1 million and placing more than 25 tonnes of packaging must still collect and report packaging data. Where larger producers supply empty packaging to exempt smaller breweries, the larger producer is responsible for the associated fees. Final fees for glass bottles were set at £192 per tonne in June 2025, down from the earlier illustrative rate of £240. Aluminium and steel cans are charged at different rates depending on material type. Fees are calculated per tonne and reflect local authority waste management costs, apportioned by weight and volume. From 2026–2027, fees will be modulated based on recyclability, with less recyclable packaging incurring higher charges, assessed using the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will implement schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

The Government is committed to improving the implementation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help mitigate flood risk and reduce the quantity of water that ends up in our drainage infrastructure. SuDS also provide filtration, amenity and biodiversity benefits. The current implementation route for SuDS in new developments is via the National Planning Policy Framework, see paragraphs 173 and 175. We believe that stronger SuDS outcomes can be achieved through either improving the current planning led approach using powers now available or commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It is also important to ensure that appropriate adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place. To help inform thinking, the Government asked a question on flooding in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation that concluded in September 2024.