§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the energy consumption is per unit of aluminium produced from(a) raw materials and (b) scrap. [174976]
§ Jacqui SmithAccording to the Aluminium Federation, primary production in the UK uses about 14,500 kWh/tonne to electrolyse the alumina into molten primary aluminium. Recycling requires approximately 780 kWh/tonne, including all of the energy required to pre-process the low grade scraps prior to melting.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the price of scrap aluminium per tonne is; and what the average price was in 1997. [174978]
§ Jacqui Smith"Metal Bulletin" quotes low and high prices, representing an evaluation of the market at the time that particular issue of "Metal Bulletin" goes to press. Monthly averages are not published. UK market prices are published for many different categories of aluminium scarp and ingot foundries. Data for three examples are shown below. Prices in 1997 generally exceeded the May 2004 level, except at the very start of the year.
£ per tonne (low and high prices) Product 8 January 1997 30 December 1997 19 May 2004 Aluminium Scrap and Foundry Ingots: United Kingdom market Commercial cast 595–605 670–690 635–670 Group I Litho (baled) 785–805 875–895 800–830 Mixed alloy/Old Rolled cuttings 575–595 675–695 595–615
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are taken to ensure that scrap aluminium exported from the UK is sent to Integrated Pollution Preventative and Control Directive Approved processing plants. [175427]
§ Mr. TimmsAs a member of the European Community, the United Kingdom is not able to take unilateral action on trade matters. Decisions which impact on or affect the European Community's commercial policy are taken collectively by the European Commission and member states working closely together. There are no plans at present for the Commission to introduce proposals which would restrict the export of aluminium scrap to processing plants that meet certain standards of environmental performance. Any such measures would have to be compatible with WTO rules.