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Battery Recycling

3. Paul Flynn (Newport, West) (Lab): What plans she has to ensure that the reprocessing of end-of-life batteries can be undertaken in the UK. [170680]

The Minister for Industry and the Regions (Jacqui Smith): Most car batteries are already recycled in the UK, as are many button cells containing mercury and silver. A plant for recycling lithium batteries is being built in Scotland. Increased collection of household batteries would make such recycling more economic, and my Department has held discussions with a company interested in developing a facility in the UK.

Paul Flynn : Is it not a nonsensical aspect of environmental policy that the small number of batteries recycled through zinc reprocessing plants have to be shipped to France, because we no longer have such a plant in the United Kingdom? If the directive becomes mandatory, up to 30,000 tonnes of end-of-life batteries may be shipped to France. The news that there will be a plant in Scotland is welcome, but should we not ensure that the nonsense of sending batteries to France is ended and that we develop zinc-processing facilities, particularly at Newport, which has become a major centre for recycling fridges and end-of-life vehicles?

Jacqui Smith: My hon. Friend importantly links the action that we need to take in response to the EU batteries directive with the opportunities that that provides for recycling. Once we can collect significantly more batteries than we do at present, important opportunities for recycling will obviously open up. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Department is holding discussions on the issue with the battery industry, which is aware of that significant recycling opportunity.

Mr. Michael Weir (Angus) (SNP): At those facilities, will the Minister consider the recycling of zinc air batteries that are used in hearing aids? There is a great deal of worry among users of hearing aids that under the directive the batteries could effectively be banned because of the difficulties of recycling.
 
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Jacqui Smith: I agree that we need to be careful to deliver the objectives of the directive, which aims to reduce the disposal of waste, but to do that in a way that does not disadvantage consumers or those who make significant use of particular batteries, as the hon. Gentleman points out. That is why, in the next two weeks, we shall consult on the details of how we take forward discussions on the directive. I am sure that that is one of the issues that will be borne in mind as we carry through that consultation.

Mr. Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): Will the Minister confirm, though, that more motor car batteries are being dumped illegally since the rules on recycling such batteries were tightened up a few years ago? Will she give the House a prediction of levels of vehicle dumping after the introduction of the end-of-life directive?

Jacqui Smith: The end-of-life vehicle directive, along with other Government measures, related to our action on antisocial behaviour, for example, is an important way in which we can ensure that we reduce the dumping of vehicles. I disagree with the hon. Gentleman on the position with regard to automotive batteries. Already, 90 per cent. of automotive batteries are collected and recycled in the UK through a UK recycling plant. Although the hon. Gentleman can raise concerns about how we maintain that, we already have a good position in respect of automotive batteries, which can only be improved by both the consultation on, and the implementation of, the end-of-life vehicles directive.

ACAS

4. Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy) (PC): What assessment she has made of the impact of budget reductions in the ACAS public helpline on the planned expansion of that service; and if she will make a statement. [170681]

12. Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): What assessment she has made of the possible effect of proposed reductions in the ACAS budget on staffing levels. [170689]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): We are in discussion with ACAS about its future funding. It is too early to speculate on the detailed impact on ACAS staff or operations.

Mr. Llwyd : As I understand it, the Department is to impose a 10 per cent. cut across the board. I am sure the Minister will recognise the good work that ACAS does in employee-employer relations. As he knows, the helpline deals with 28,000 calls per week, and ACAS intended to expand that service. Will the Minister explain how, in the light of any cuts, the Department expects ACAS to expand the service? If he believes that the service will not be affected by a budget cut, can he say which ACAS services are likely to be cut?

Mr. Sutcliffe: How ACAS disburses its funds is a matter for the ACAS board, as the hon. Gentleman knows. The Department funds the whole budget. The
 
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ACAS helpline has been extremely helpful to small firms and individuals, and we hope it will continue and develop. It has taken over 700,000 calls a year and I believe it will continue. ACAS is reviewing its operations across the board and I believe it will propose many other ways of helping small firms and individuals.

Mrs. Cryer: With my hon. Friend's great experience in the trade union movement, does he believe that cuts in funding to the frontline staff at ACAS could have a negative impact on industrial relations, which could cost the taxpayer more than any savings made in funding?

Mr. Sutcliffe: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the matter. It is not our intention to stop ACAS doing the excellent work that it does. We support the work that ACAS is involved with. We are looking at efficiency savings right across the Department and because ACAS falls within the Department's remit, we must examine its efficiency as well, but it is not our intention to interrupt any of the work that ACAS is doing.

Renewable Energy (New Housing)

5. Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): If she will discuss with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister the amendment of building regulations to encourage the use of renewable energy products in new housing. [170682]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Nigel Griffiths): The energy White Paper announced a review of building regulations to encourage the take-up of low-carbon and zero-carbon technologies, and on implementing article 5 of the energy performance of buildings directive. Our colleagues in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry established a working party on how low-carbon systems could be addressed in the building regulations, and the results are available. I urge my hon. Friend to submit his views to the impending consultation exercise.

Ian Lucas: A considerable amount of new-build housing is being constructed in my constituency, which is an opportunity to develop the manufacturing industry in renewable energy in the United Kingdom. Sharp Manufacturing has located its manufacturing operation for photovoltaic cells in Wrexham, and we must develop that important market. Will my hon. Friend assure me that he will assist manufacturing industry in that positive development by putting real pressure on the ODPM and, indeed, the Welsh Assembly Government, to take the matter forward?

Nigel Griffiths: I am delighted that the Government have committed £25 million in grants to support major photovoltaic demonstration projects, which involve installing solar photovoltaic panels in all types of building, and I hope that photovoltaic panels are used as widely as possible. My hon. Friend has contacted the ODPM, and the Deputy Prime Minister knows that my hon. Friend strongly supports the Sharp factory in
 
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Wrexham and wants to ensure that it takes a world lead in photovoltaic technology, from which we want British manufacturers to benefit.

Mr. Kelvin Hopkins (Luton, North) (Lab): Although I welcome what the Government have done on renewable energy, is my hon. Friend concerned about the long-term security of energy supplies in general? Is it not now time for the Government to put the kind of resources into renewables that were previously put into nuclear energy to ensure that we have safe and secure energy for the future?

Nigel Griffiths: We take the need to invest in renewables seriously, which is why we have made a multi-million pound investment to showcase some of the diverse renewable structures and mechanisms that are available. It is important that we make up for lost time, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services shares the commitment of my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, North (Mr. Hopkins) to renewables, which he champions.

Dr. Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown) (Lab): I am sure that my hon. Friend agrees that departmental co-operation is essential in delivering energy policy. Will he therefore open discussions with the Treasury on fiscal measures to promote energy conservation and renewable energy, such as reducing VAT on insulation materials and restructuring carbon tax, which is ripe for improvement?

Nigel Griffiths: The Treasury has considered those matters, on which my hon. Friend speaks with knowledge and concern. I note Government Members' widespread interest in the matter, but no Conservative or Liberal Democrat Member rose to speak.

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