HC Deb 22 June 1971 vol 819 cc268-9W
Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government accept Recommendation No. 626 on the legal aspect of marine pollution which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 21st January, 1971; and whether they will contribute to the preparation, within the framework of the Council of Europe, of a draft agreement concerning a ban on the discharge of certain pollutants into the sea, and the necessary controls, as recommended in paragraph 8(6)(i) of this text.

Mr. Maclennan

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government accept Recommendation No. 626 on the legal aspect of marine pollution which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 21st January, 1971; and whether they will contribute to the preparation, within the framework of the Council of Europe, of a draft agreement concerning a ban on the discharge of certain pollutants into the sea, and the necessary controls, as recommended in paragraph 8(b)(i) of this text.

Mr. Peter Walker

Her Majesty's Government agree that marine pollution poses important and urgent problems, and have noted the Council of Europe resolution. Discussion on these problems is already well under way in other forums; for example, progress was made at a meeting of the North Sea countries on 11th June and at the first meeting in London of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Marine Pollution.