HC Deb 06 December 1972 vol 847 cc1280-1
5. Mr. Dalyeil

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to make a statement on the Third Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Sir S. McAdden.)— [Vol. 847, c.380.]

Mr. Dalyell

Which of the Ashby recommendations are the Government not accepting, and why?

Mr. Griffiths

If the hon. Gentleman will read the four columns of HANSARD which contain the detailed reply which I gave yesterday, he will know the answer to his question. The short position is that my right hon. Friend has been able to accept almost all the Royal Commission's recommendations in full. There are a few on which we have made marginal comments—

Mr. Dalyell

These are the few I asked about.

Mr. Griffiths

One or two. The hon. Gentleman needs to look up what I said yesterday before he asks ignorant questions.

Mr. Walter Johnson

Does not the Minister agree that the Government should give time for a debate on environmental pollution as soon as possible?

Mr. Griffiths

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. I remind the hon. Gentleman that there have been three Adjournment debates on different aspects of environmental pollution, including one on the last Consolidated Fund Bill.

Mr. Dalyell

On a point of order. In view of the practice of giving written replies to parliamentary Questions—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman's remark does not seem to accord with the convention. "Unsatisfactory" is the only epithet which can be applied.

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