§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the reason for not agreeing to the European anti-pollution scheme.
§ Mr. Denis HowellAt the Council of Ministers of the Environment at Luxembourg on 16th October the United Kingdom Government remained in broad482W agreement with other member States and the Commission on the aims to be pursued in the current European Environment Programme and its development, and a number of legislative proposals were agreed. On one particular draft directive there was only a discussion of the principles involved. This directive seeks to impose uniform emission limits throughout the Community for the discharge of certain substances into rivers and tidal waters.
There is no warrant for uniform emission standards in the programme agreed by member States two years ago. In the Government's view it makes no sense to impose the same controls on discharges into such widely differing environments as the Mediterranean and the North Sea or coastal waters and inland rivers. Uniform controls which take no account of local environmental circumstances would lead to a waste of the resources which are available for controlling water pollution. It was agreed at the Council that the decision on the draft directive should be deferred so that there could be further talks between the Commission and the United Kingdom Government and allow other member States more time to consider the United Kingdom attitude. Another Council will be held on 8th December to consider this proposal again.
I have arranged for the speech which I made to the Council on this problem to be placed in the Library of the House.
§ 52. Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the EEC Commission's proposals concerning pollution of seas and rivers.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Esher (Mr. Mather) on 23 rd October 1975—[Vol. 898, c. 263–4]—and to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing) today.