§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list any recommendations currently being considered by his Department concerning the acceptable level of list I and list II substances in dredged materials to be disposed of in the North sea;
(2) what concentrations of list I and list II substances are regarded as acceptable levels of contamination in dredged materials to be disposed of in the North sea.
§ Mr. GummerI have been asked to reply.
In the context of both the Oslo and London dumping conventions, to which the United Kingdom is a signatory, guidelines for the disposal of dredged materials were adopted this year which prescribe the conditions under which licences may be issued for the sea disposal of dredged materials. Whilst the guidelines do not set numerical limits on the levels of Annex I and II substances, they indicate the factors to be taken into account in assessing whether or not the environmental impact of contaminated spoils is acceptable.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the amounts of list I/black list substances which render sewage sludge unsuitable for sea disposal.
§ Mr. GummerI have been asked to reply.
These substances may not be disposed of at sea except where they occur in, for example, sewage sludge as trace contaminants. In deciding on particular cases, in accordance with the relevant international conventions, my Ministry takes full account of the need to protect the marine environment, its living resources, human health and of her relevant factors.