§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate she has made of the cost to the British economy of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive using the methodology set out in the draft document; [42591]
(2) if she will make a statement on the economic cost of the methods of disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment in the United Kingdom. [42593]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 12 March 2002]: An updated partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) will be placed in the Libraries of the House this month. Based on the latest draft of the directive, the RIA suggests the annual compliance costs of implementing the directive will lie in the range £191 million to £391 million.
Industry estimates suggest that, by weight, around half of the total UK electrical goods waste arisings currently enter a recycling/recovery process on an economic basis. There will be a cost associated with disposal of the remainder. This will primarily relate to landfilling costs.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from greetings card manufacturers and retailers about the inclusion of musical greeting cards within the scope of the proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive. [42592]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 12 March 2002]: I am not aware of any representations.