§ Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the likely effects of the introduction of the WEEE Directive on small retailers; what estimate she has made of the number that are likely to be put out of business because of the Directive; and how many retailers have contacted her Department to express their concern. [132865]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Government are concerned to implement the WEEE Directive with a light regulatory touch, consistent with achieving its environmental goals. We would not expect small retailers to be put out of business because of this Directive.
The Government consulted widely on this Directive earlier this year following its entry into force and received responses from a range of organisations and individuals, including 54 retailers or their representative organisations.
The UK successfully negotiated flexibility in the Directive's provisions on retail takeback and the Government are now considering how to take advantage of this in its implementation. In this context, it is in discussions with retailers, including the British Retail Consortium.
The Government intends to publish its proposals for implementation of the Directive, including retail take-back, later this autumn for consultation. After this, it will issue draft implementing Regulations for consultation next spring.