§ 10. Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers have been acquired by the Commission of the European Communities either through the Treaty of Rome or other means over United Kingdom environmental policies.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinNone, Sir, by the Commission.
§ Mr. MarlowIs it not the case that as well as running our agricultural policy and our trade policy from Brussels, directives are now being issued on our planning policy? Given the disastrous CAP and the less than successful trade policy, will my right hon. Friend make it his business to stop any empire-building by the Brussels megalomaniacs with regard to our environmental policy?
§ Mr. JenkinIt is now over 11 years since the Heads of Government of the EC, in the European Council agreed on the importance of a Community environmental policy, and since then the Community has adopted successive environmental action programmes, the most recent one being last February, covering the period from 1982 to 1986. It is my belief that this European policy on the environment is widely supported by many people within the Community.