To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the EU Batteries Directive. (210054)

Responsibility for implementation is being shared between DEFRA and BERR; DEFRA is leading on the portable/household battery provisions, while BERR is leading on the automotive/industrial batteries and single market provisions. BERR is the overall lead Department.

A first consultation on proposals on ways to implement the directive was jointly published by DEFRA, BERR and the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on 21 December and closed on 13 March. We are currently preparing a joint official response.

A second consultation with draft regulations will follow in late summer.

As part of the BREW (Business Resource Efficiency and Waste) programme run by DEFRA, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) was asked to pilot collection schemes. WRAP worked in partnership with a range of local authorities, not for profit organisations and others to assess options for cost effective UK household battery collection. The results of these trials will help the Government and battery producers identify the best mechanisms and most efficient methods of collection that could be rolled out across the UK. WRAP'S report is due to be published shortly.