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Item 2 is on a number of pieces of subordinate legislation.
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations (SSI 2002/147)
Given that no member has raised any points on the regulations to date and that no motion to annul has been lodged, I take it that the committee is content that it has nothing to report.
I do not wish to report anything, but can the committee take the opportunity to write to the Executive to ask for an explanation of the imbalance between recycling targets and recovery targets? There seems to be a huge gap between the targets of 19 per cent for recycling and 59 per cent for recovery. It would be useful for us to understand why there is such a difference.
Where are the figures that you are referring to?
The last page of the Executive's explanatory note sets out its programme. The Executive has set targets of 19 per cent for recycling, but 59 per cent for recovery. It would be useful for the committee's general view of how we manage waste to find out why there is such an imbalance between the targets for recycling and the targets for recovery.
The imbalance might be to do with the ability to recycle the materials that are recovered. Plastics and mixed plastics are difficult to recycle. However, we should ask the question.
We should ask the question, rather than speculate.
It would also be interesting to find out about sanctions. What sanctions does the Government impose on the industry when it does not meet the targets? There was concern that the sanction that was imposed on a particular company that did not comply and that did not do what it said that it would do was inadequate.
We can ask ministers for further clarification on the difference between the targets. On that basis, I will consult the clerks and draft an appropriate letter to the minister. Do members agree that we have nothing to report on the regulations?
Scottish Water (Rate of Return) (Scotland) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/165)<br />Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential and Savings Provisions) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/166)
Water and Sewerage Charges (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (SSI 2002/167)<br />Scottish Administration (Offices) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/801)
No points have been raised with the clerks and no motion to annul has been lodged on these instruments. Do we agree that we have nothing to report on the instruments?
That deals with all the items of subordinate legislation.
Before we move on to the next agenda item, it would be worth recording in the Official Report the comments that the Subordinate Legislation Committee made on many of the above statutory instruments and the difficulties that poor drafting have caused. I do not want to report on that, but it is worth recording our dissatisfaction with the quality of drafting in many statutory instruments.
I do not think that we need to comment to the Executive as a committee. The Subordinate Legislation Committee plays a useful role in keeping the Executive on its toes in the drafting of instruments. Having served on that committee for a while, I know that it draws a number of issues to the Executive's attention. We really just need to note the instruments; the Subordinate Legislation Committee will continue to play its role in considering the appropriate drafting of instruments.
Meeting continued in private.
Meeting continued in public.
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