§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the disposal of potassium waste by France and Belgium in the English channel; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 17 March 1988]: From our contacts with the relevant authorities in France and Belgium and with the secretariat to the Oslo convention on sea disposal, it has been established that up to 750 tonnes of salt wastes from the potassium mining industry were disposed of at sea by France last month on an experimental basis, at a point five miles north of Dunkirk, and some 28 miles from the nearest United Kingdom coast. This disposal will be discussed at next week's meeting of the Oslo commission's standing committee for scientific advice when more detailed information on its likely environmental impact, and on any plans for future disposals of this nature, will be sought from the French authorities.