§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what applications have been made by Her Majesty's Government for any derogation from the terms of the North sea conference agreement of 1987 prohibiting the deposit of industrial waste in the North sea 799W after 31 December; and if he will state the quantities of material concerned, the amount of toxic content, and the periods for which application has been made.
§ Mr. GummerThe ministerial declaration from the 1987 North sea conference provides for a country to show to the competent international organisation that a waste to be disposed of causes no harm in the marine environment. It has been agreed that the Oslo commission is the competent international organisation for this purpose, and the Oslo commission has agreed an appropriate procedure to be followed. Submissions have been made to the Oslo commission in respect of three wastes comprising an annual volume of 51,000 tonnes. Under the conditions of disposal the wastes are not toxic in the marine environment. The Oslo commission procedure requires that licences be reviewed every three years.