§ 10. Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the negotiations within the European Community to set up an environment friendly labelling system.
§ Mr. Chris PattenFollowing agreement at the Environment Council meeting last September, official level discussions with the European Commission will take place 1114 later this month to develop proposals for a Community wide scheme of positive environmental labelling for consumer products.
§ Ms. QuinAs progress on this matter in the European Community may turn out to be slow, will the Secretary of State commit himself to introducing such a scheme in this country if there has not been agreement by the EC within a specific time limit, for example the end of this year?
§ Mr. PattenAs the hon. Lady will know, we have taken the lead on this initiative in the European Community. The Commission has assured us that it will be possible to introduce proposals reasonably soon. I should like to see them in place, or at least agreed, by the end of this year. If we do not make the progress that we should like, we shall have to go ahead with a national scheme. The objective is to have in place national schemes which are compatible across the Community so that we are prepared for the single market in 1992.