Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that electric vehicles are manufactured (a) sustainably and (b) with appropriate environmental considerations.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan announced DRIVE35 (Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification) which will support the latest research and development, accelerate commercial scale up, and unlock capital investment in zero emission vehicles, batteries and their supply chains. This programme contributes to our net zero objectives by helping to cut millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions – both in the UK, and globally in our EV manufacturing supply chain.
This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy and has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts from industry, academia, and civil society. They are developing a series of roadmaps, including one for transport, detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis. The Strategy will support the Government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.
Asked by: Connor Rand (Labour - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on joining the EU in applying tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
This government is continuing to work closely with EU partners to identify areas to strengthen cooperation, including the economy, energy, security and resilience.
The government will take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in the national interest. It is for the independent Trade Remedies Authority to investigate whether trade remedy measures are needed to protect our industries, and any action taken on Chinese electric vehicles imports has to be the right one for UK industry.
The government is in close contact with the sector about this and wider issues, including the recent announcement of over £2 billion of capital and R&D funding to 2030 for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains
Asked by: Connor Rand (Labour - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the criteria are for automotive companies to access the support for transition to electric vehicles announced in the Budget.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Budget committed over £2 billion to 2030 for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains. Government will engage with industry as we take forward these plans, and further details will be set out in due course as part of the Industrial Strategy. In the meantime, investors can continue to apply to the Automotive Transformation Fund and Advanced Propulsion Centre R&D programmes.
The Budget also confirmed £120 million in grants supporting the purchase of new zero-emission vans and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Eligibility is assessed on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. Updates on other grants will be provided in due course.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department has taken to find an alternative producer of batteries for electric vehicles for the vacant Cambois site since the collapse of Britishvolt and Recharge Industries.
Answered by Alan Mak
The administration is a matter solely for the administrators. The Government has no formal role in the process.
There are a number of factors that investors take into account when deciding on the location of a gigafactory, but ultimately this remains a commercial matter.
We continue to work with industry via the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to support the creation of an internationally competitive zero emission vehicle supply chain in the UK, including gigafactories.
As part of the Advanced Manufacturing Plan, we have announced over £2bn of capital and R&D funding over five years to 2030 in zero emission vehicles, batteries and the wider supply chain, boosting the UK’s competitiveness and unlocking strategic investments in our automotive industry.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with car manufacturers on levels of disruption to supply chains for (a) temperature sensors and (b) other spare parts for electric vehicles since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Alan Mak
HMG understands the concerns of the Automotive industry regarding the potential impact of the invasion on its business operations and supply chains worldwide. The Department for Business and Trade ministers regularly meet with sector bodies and auto manufacturers to discuss a variety of automotive related trade issues, including an understanding of any direct and indirect impacts on UK operations.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to postpone the introduction of tariffs for electric vehicles traded between the UK and Europe; and when they expect to be able to announce the outcome of their discussions on this issue.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel
We know a key concern for both UK and EU automotive industries is the 2024 change in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’s Rules of Origin for Electric Vehicles and batteries. We have listened to the concerns of the sector on both sides and made it a priority to find a joint solution. The UK and the EU have a shared ambition to grow domestic Electric Vehicle manufacturing and battery supply chains. The European Commission’s 6th December proposal to extend the current rules for 3-years is a positive step towards providing long term certainty to industry, ensuring it remains globally competitive.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the effects of impending export regulations as a result of the UK's departure from the EU on the manufacturing costs of electric vehicles and their market accessibility in the EU.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel
Due to unforeseen shared external shocks, carmakers across Europe have said they cannot meet the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement’s rules from 2024 and could face tariffs. This is a shared problem and the Government is determined to work with the EU to fix the specific issue faced from 2024. We want to reach a joint solution with the EU, but our priority is to support our automotive sector and we will be considering all scenarios. Government continues to support the UK automotive industry through the Automotive Transformation Fund, facilitating the creation of an internationally competitive UK electric vehicle supply chain.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with manufacturers about providing support for opening electric vehicle factories in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel
My officials regularly engage with the automotive industry to discuss manufacturing opportunities in the UK, including in Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for phasing cobalt out of electric car production and for supporting the manufacture of high purity spherical graphite in the UK.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Government is aware of the social, environmental and supply concerns surrounding the mining of raw materials, including cobalt, for battery electric vehicles. We expect UK companies to adhere fully with UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the FCDO works on strengthening transparency, improving governance, and finding solutions to the complex challenges of extracting cobalt from artisanal mines.
We continue to work with industry via the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) and the Faraday Battery Challenge to support the creation of an internationally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK. Anode Active Material is a strategic priority in scope of the ATF, as part of the upstream supply chain for batteries.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding the UK Government have allocated to the electric car industry between 2023 and 2030.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
In the 2021 Net Zero Strategy, the Government announced £350m for the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF). This is in addition to the £500m for this programme announced in the 2020 Ten Point Plan.
Government and industry have jointly committed approximately £1.4bn in innovative projects through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), to accelerate the development and commercialisation of strategically important vehicle technologies, strengthening our competitive edge internationally.
In the coming months, after engagement with industry, the Government will build on the APC and ATF to take decisive action to ensure future investment in the manufacturing of zero emission vehicles in the UK.