Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what plans he has for the (a) disposal and (b) refurbishment of electric car batteries.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Electric car batteries are classified as industrial batteries and covered under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. This bans the disposal to landfill of such batteries and their incineration. It also establishes take-back and recycling obligations for industrial battery producers.
The UK’s £246 million Faraday Battery Challenge is playing a leading role in promoting the reuse and recycling of battery components. One of the eight technical challenges set is to be able to recycle 95% of an electric vehicle battery pack by 2035.
A number of live projects are exploring this area including a £10 million Faraday Institution research project. This is developing the technological, economic and policy framework that would allow high percentages of the materials in lithium-ion batteries at the end of their first life to be reused or recycled. In addition, several collaborative research and development projects are looking at reusing, remanufacturing or recycling end-of-life, automotive lithium-ion batteries.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what new initiatives his Department has implemented to support rural communities in Scotland in the last six months.
Answered by George Eustice
Responsibility for policy, and any related initiatives, to support rural communities in Scotland rests with the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has received representations since April 24th 2018 from the Scottish Government on the creation of common frameworks for agriculture after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Government on the need for common frameworks. The Secretary of State last met Ministers from the Scottish and Welsh Governments and senior officials from Northern Ireland on 14 May 2018 when the need for common frameworks was discussed.
It is our intention that each administration has the freedom to design policies that support their farming sectors and enhance their environment. We are working with the devolved administrations to identify where common frameworks are required. Common frameworks should only be established where they are needed; whether this is to maintain a functioning UK internal market, to strike trade deals, or to provide the certainty required to meet international obligations.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department has provided to the devolved administration in Edinburgh to devise agricultural policies for the period after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Agriculture is a devolved responsibility, and it is the Government’s intention that each administration has the freedom to design policies that support the individual characteristics of their agricultural industries and unique landscapes.
The Government has committed to work closely with the Devolved Administrations and stakeholders to deliver an approach that works for the whole of the UK and reflects the individual needs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; subject to where common frameworks may be necessary.
Asked by: Luke Graham (Conservative - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the establishment of UK-wide frameworks for agriculture after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
We are committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on the development of common frameworks that work for the whole of the UK and reflect the devolution settlements of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Common frameworks should only be established where they are needed, whether this is to maintain a functioning UK internal market, to strike trade deals, or to provide the certainty needed to meet international obligations.