§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department has to ensure that the level of lead batteries currently recycled is maintained and increased.
§ Mr. EggarI am aware that a combination of factors, including the current low price of lead, is reported by lead acid battery recyclers to be making their recovery operations increasingly uneconomic. On 5 May my Department issued a consultation paper seeking views on the options open to the United Kingdom for implementing the Directive on Batteries and Accumulators Containing Certain Dangerous Substances (91/157/EEC). This explores the possibilities for maintaining and increasing the traditionally high United Kingdom recycling rate for lead acid batteries. Officials recently met the battery recyclers and their representative organisation, the Lead Development Association, and encouraged them to make proposals as part of their response to this consultation paper.