Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the adequacy of the assessment of the environmental impacts of the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government assessed the economic and environmental impacts of the UK-Australia FTA within the independently scrutinised impact assessment published in December 2021 when the FTA was signed. The UK-Australia FTA contains an ambitious environment chapter which affirms our shared commitment to the Paris Agreement and to strengthen cooperation on a range of environmental issues.
This Government will continually assess the impacts of our free trade agreements, including those negotiated under the previous government, as they are being implemented. We will look to maximise their benefit for businesses, support economic growth and also to understand their impacts more broadly.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement is an environmental agreement for the purposes of costs protection under the UNECE Aarhus Convention.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Costs limits in Aarhus Convention claims are regulated by Part 46 of the Civil Procedure Rules. An ‘Aarhus Convention claim’ is defined in rule 46.24. The interpretation of rule 46.24 is the subject of an ongoing appeal before the Court of Appeal. Therefore, the Government is unable to comment on this matter at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for a public consultation on the need to introduce legislation to prevent corporate human rights and environmental harms and to ensure proper remedy for those affected by such harms.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is clear on the need to prevent environmental harms and human and labour rights abuses in both private and public sector supply chains and will take an evidence-based approach as we assess the best ways to achieve this. The Department for Business and Trade regularly engages with stakeholders in business and civil society on these issues, as do other Government departments. We will consult with stakeholders as we consider any further action.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to convene a cross-department unit on business and human rights.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not currently have plans to convene a cross-departmental unit on business and human rights. The Department for Business and Trade works closely with teams in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Home Office and other departments to prevent and address corporate human rights abuses, including through the Modern Slavery Act, supporting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises, and through operating the UK National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the EU’s Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, and whether they plan to introduce a comparable law in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has noted the EU’s adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and has been in regular contact with the European Commission on this issue through the Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field. The Directive will apply to UK companies with a turnover generated in the EU of more than €450 million.
The Government will assess the best ways to prevent environmental harms, modern slavery and human and labour rights abuses in both private and public sector supply chains including effective due diligence rules.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring copper within the remit of the UK Critical Minerals Strategy; and what steps they intend to take to secure the supply of copper in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Minerals are classed as ‘critical’ if they are both vitally important to the economy and experiencing major risks to their security of supply. We recognise the importance of copper in the energy transition and continue to assess the UK’s needs for the evolving electrical grid and associated technologies.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the volume of cotton garments imported into the UK that are linked to environmental destruction in the Amazonian Cerrado.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
In 2023, only 0.01% of UK imports of clothing, at least some of which are made from cotton, came from Brazil.
The Government is concerned about environmental destruction in the Amazon, and the Government monitors trends of forest loss across the region, including Brazil. In May 2023, the Government published a joint declaration with Brazil on Green and Inclusive Growth. The Partnership will drive strengthened cooperation and dialogue, including on forests and agriculture.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of the 1,450 kilo-tons of ethylene that will be produced by the Ineos company's 'Project One' each year; what assurances they have received from Ineos about its claim only 10 per cent of the ethylene produced will be used for single-use products; what steps they are taking to ensure that the 10-per-cent limit is not exceeded; and what penalties will be applied if the 10-per-cent limit is exceeded.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
UKEF undertakes due diligence to ensure that all projects it supports align with robust international Environmental, Social and Human Rights standards. This includes ongoing monitoring to ensure this remains the case throughout the duration of UKEF’s support. UKEF does not attach specific conditions on the end-use of products. Further details about this individual project can be found online at: Category A project supported: INEOS Project One, Belgium - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with producers of personal protective equipment regarding regulatory or technological solutions to the issue of short use-by dates for such equipment.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Personal Protective Equipment Regulation 2016/425 sets out essential safety requirements that PPE must meet. This includes an obligation on the manufacturer to give, if possible, the month and year of obsolescence, if it is known that the design performance may be significantly affected by ageing.
The Government has had no discussions with PPE producers about changing this requirement in the Regulation, but welcomes new technological innovation to improve short PPE use-by dates.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the personal protective equipment (PPE) industry about regulatory and technological solutions to improve short PPE use-by dates.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Personal Protective Equipment Regulation 2016/425 sets out essential safety requirements that PPE must meet. This includes an obligation on the manufacturer to give, if possible, the month and year of obsolescence, if it is known that the design performance may be significantly affected by ageing.
The Government has had no discussions with industry about changing this requirement in the Regulation, but welcomes new technological innovation to improve short PPE use-by dates.