§ Mr. Hancockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many licences for dumping toxic wastes at sea have been issued in the last five years;
(2) how much and what type of toxic waste has been dumped at sea in the last five years.
§ Mr. GummerWith certain exemptions, which are codified in the Deposits in the Sea (Exemptions) Order 1985, all disposals to sea require a licence. Toxicity tests are undertaken whenever appropriate, and over the last666W five years 350 licences have been issued following such tests, permitting the disposal of 25.6 million tonnes of waste. Within this total 332 licences and 3.1 million tonnes related to industrial wastes, and 18 licences and 22.5 million tonnes to sewage sludge.