§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the forthcoming EU legislation on the disposal and recycling of batteries to be introduced in the United Kingdom. [157526]
§ Mr. MorleyThe timetable for implementation of the draft Directive for Member States is unclear. The Directive will be negotiated through the co-decision process. As such, much will depend on whether agreement is reached after First or Second Reading, or following conciliation. The draft Directive is expected to receive its First Reading in the European Parliament on 19 April 2004. The negotiation process may however be delayed by European Enlargement in May 2004 and European Parliament elections in June 2004.
Once the Directive is in place the UK Government will have 18 months to transpose it into domestic law.