Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port and Battery Manufacturing Strategy

Baroness Boycott Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I agree with my noble friend that it is very important that we see a future for these industries. As I have said, we are doing all that we can to help—I outlined our financial commitment in my answer to the noble Lord, Lord Fox. I come from the north-east, so I want to see it do well along with the north-west, and I repeat my earlier answer that we are doing all that we can to secure the future of the Ellesmere Port facility.

[Baroness Boycott (CB) [V]]

My Lords, like everyone, I welcome the introduction of full electric vehicles, but the Secretary of State said:

“We want to see a circular economy for electric vehicles.”—[Official Report, Commons, 1/3/21; col 33.]


However, he also said, “If we attain that”. Can the Minister give us an assurance that the Government are looking into how this can be achieved? A recent report by the Transport and Environment Committee found that it is eminently feasible to have batteries that are one-fifth lithium and nickel and 65% cobalt, coming from recycled sources, by 2035. Will the Government put some sort of target into legislation as a statement of intent to drive the industry to do just that?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I outlined in previous answers the support that we are giving; we are looking closely at all these matters. I am sure that it is eminently possible to ensure that a circular economy applies to electric vehicles as much as it applies to many other parts of the economy.