HL Deb 10 November 1998 vol 594 cc621-2

2.37 p.m.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In doing so I wish to declare an interest.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the consequences of the proposals contained in the final draft of the European Council directive on End of Life Vehicles (COM (97) 358) for the collection, storage, repair, use and conservation of historic vehicles.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, historic vehicles will only be affected by this directive when they become the "waste" as defined under existing legislation; in other words, when the owners have decided to discard them. In any case, the directive does not affect dismantling by private individuals.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Is he aware that it will bring considerable comfort and reassurance to some 300,000 owners of historic vehicles in this country? Will he instruct his officials dealing with the draft directive in Brussels to exercise due diligence to make sure that nothing is subsequently added that will affect the collecting and storing of historic cars? Perhaps, in due course, a leaflet can be issued by the DTI to explain the directive and its implications.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his first response to my Answer. My answer to his subsequent questions in both cases is, yes, we have no interest in a directive which would damage the historic car business or avocation. We are concerned that directives of this kind should be well understood. Of course, it is only a draft directive at present so we are some way from a final version.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, why do we need a directive of this kind? Surely the matter is covered under the subsidiarity clauses of the Maastricht Treaty.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, how such a directive is implemented is a matter for member states. There are, however, substantial environmental issues concerned with the directive. At the moment, 75 per cent. of the content of discarded cars is recovered as metal. But 25 per cent. goes to landfill, including all kinds of hazardous materials—oil and so on—which create environmental damage. That is a proper concern of the European Community. The directive is concerned to reduce the amount of landfill and also of hazardous materials which are not properly treated.