A recent Packaging Federation-organised parliamentary reception for the packaging manufacturing industry at Westminster saw Barnsley central MP Eric Illsley lay down an Early Day Motion (EDM) entitled “Support for the UK Packaging Industry”.
The official number allocated to the motion is EDM 405.
An EDM is essentially a notice by beck-benchers to the Government of issues of key concern to them; if signatories reach a sufficiently high number, for instance 100-200, this may trigger an automatic House of Commons debate.
Following the Motion, which called for “recognition of packaging's valuable contribution to the food supply chain and its achievements in the environmental areas on the use of resources and recycling”, Packaging Federation ceo Ian Dent (soon to hand over to successor Dick Searle) called for all manufacturers and users of packaging to “get behind” the EDM and secure an Adjournment debate on the same theme. He hopes such a debate might be held in the first quarter of 2007.
Dent said: “I am delighted I am leaving with this parting short for the sector, as this is the first time, to my knowledge, that an EDM has been laid down in favour of, rather than against, packaging. It was encouraging to hear one MP at the reception state that they felt politicians were now starting to make more reasoned and balanced debates over packaging.”
The reception witnessed a keynote speech from Minister for Industry and the Regions Margaret Hodge, who praised the packaging manufacturing sector's efforts in making productivity gains and recycling, as well as recognising packaging's value to most supply chains, but notably the food and drink sector.
Dent thanked the Minister, but also made reference to a specially prepared MP briefing paper calling from greater support from the DTI and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), and highlighting the need for better cohesion between local authority and Producer Responsibility recycling targets.
Dent concluded: “Please don't let this opportunity slip away; get writing to your MPs today!”
