§ Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what preparations her Department is making to meet the requirements of the proposed EU directive on end-of-life procedures for electrical and electronic goods. [37732]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsMember States have not yet received the first draft text of the European Commission's proposal for a Directive on end of electrical and electronic equipment. The DTI has, however, commenced discussions with a wide range of industry bodies and other interested parties, as well as with the European Commission, in order to influence the development of the expected Directive. In the context of the Government's Producer Responsibility initiative, the DTI is also encouraging the electrical and electronic equipment industry to take action to increase recovery and recycling levels in this sector.
§ Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department has made of the environmental efficacy of a deposit system on new electrical white goods, returnable upon responsible disposal at the end of their useful lives. [37733]
§ Mr. BattleThe application of deposit systems on new electrical white goods, which may involve a refund to the consumer when the appliance reaches the end of its life, is not widespread in Europe. The Department is collecting information on the instances where legislation exists or discussions are taking place to establish such systems, and will be assessing their effectiveness in due course. Within the UK, it is estimated that over 50 per cent. of new white goods are sold with the opportunity to take back the old appliance free of charge.