Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the quality and consistency of short scrap metal to meet increased demand for future electric arc furnace steelmaking.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is aware the sector's transition to electric arc furnaces will mean scrap steel becomes an increasingly vital material source for UK steelmaking. The UK has an abundance of ferrous scrap and a strong scrap sector - there were c.11 million tonnes of scrap arising in 2021, with 2.6 million tonnes (25%) consumed domestically (International Steel Statistics Bureau via UK Steel) and 8.6 million tonnes (75%) exported (HMRC Overseas Trade Data).Steel producers are increasing their engagement with scrap metal dealers to secure future supply. Government officials continue to closely monitor the development of the scrap market and the Government will consider its options if evidence emerges that the market is failing to respond effectively.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to extend the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to drinks that are not currently covered by the levy, such as milk drinks and fruit juices.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) exemption for milk-based and certain milk substitute drinks will next be considered after the Office for Health Inequalities and Disparities completes its voluntary sugar reduction reporting programme. We will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK is not left behind following a potential agreement between the US and EU on Global Sustainable Steel and Aluminium.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is monitoring developments of the US-EU negotiations on the Global Arrangement for Sustainable Steel and Aluminium and we await the outcome on what may be agreed between the two parties.
In the meantime, we engage regularly with the steel and aluminium sectors to make sure there is a clear voice for industry and we are ready to act in the best interests of the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of local authorities who have up to date local plans; and what steps they plan to take to encourage local authorities who have not yet submitted their local plans to do so.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Information on the status of Local Plans is published by the Planning Inspectorate at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-plan-monitoring-progress.
The Government has been very clear that all local authorities should have a plan in place.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of organisations and projects across government that will provide data for the 2024 steel procurement pipeline.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 04/23 clearly identifies procurements for which Central Government Departments, Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies are expected to provide steel procurement pipelines to the Department of Business and Trade, for publication on GOV.UK. The next publication will include steel procurement pipelines data from these organisations in line with PPN 04/23.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure steel used for alterations and additions to UK armed forces bases is manufactured in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence follows the Government policy on the procurement of steel as set out in the Procurement Policy Note: Procuring Steel in Major Projects (ref: PPN11/16), and its steel requirements are published in the Government’s Annual Steel Public Procurement Report.
All projects scheduled for the next 10 years are assessed on a case-by-case basis where there is an anticipated need to use steel as part of their delivery, stating if this can be procured in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential of extracting valuable secondary materials from scrap steel.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Defra has not made a formal assessment of the potential of extracting valuable secondary materials from scrap steel.
Through the critical minerals strategy, the Government is committed to accelerating the UK’s domestic capabilities and developing a more efficient circular economy for critical minerals in the UK.
The flagship, four-year, £30m National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research Programme (NICER) is targeting funding to support innovation in advanced metal sorting techniques to promote a circular economy for metals.
Also, Innovate UK’s Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains (CLIMATES) programme is committing £15 million towards recycling critical minerals through R&D investments, skills and engagement with international partners.
Our forthcoming document “Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste” will also consider how best to prevent waste in several key economic sectors, including construction, and we are working with groups such as the Green Construction Board to realise those ambitions.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will decide whether to introduce a carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government has recently consulted on potential future measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks, including the potential for a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The consultation closed on 22 June 2023, and the Government is seeking a wide range of stakeholder views before taking any decisions. The Government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of exports of scrap steel from the UK.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The export of waste from the UK is subject to strict requirements set out in Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 on Shipments of Waste (WSR). The objective of the WSR is to facilitate trade in recyclable waste while protecting the environment and human health.
The WSR establishes a control system for shipments of waste based on the level of risk posed by the export to the environment and human health. Waste considered low risk to the environment is called ‘green list’ waste. Steel scrap exports for recovery are considered to pose a low risk and are, therefore, generally subject to ‘green list’ waste controls. If the steel scrap is contaminated, however, then it will be subject to ‘notification controls’ which require the relevant authorities in the countries of dispatch and destination to approve the shipment of waste prior to export.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what new proposals they have undertaken to improve the health and welfare of farmed animals within their annual health and welfare review.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As part of the fully funded annual health and welfare review eligible cattle, sheep and pig keepers are able to access bespoke advice from their choice of vet alongside access to diagnostic testing for key endemic diseases and conditions. This advice includes recommended actions to take and signposting to further support available. This will support farmers to continually improve the health and welfare of their livestock and the increases in productivity that comes with this.