Mr. MatinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the first European conference on environment and health.
§ Mr. FreemanI attended the first European Conference on Environment and Health, held in Frankfurt on 7–8 December 1989, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. The conference, which was organised by the European Region of the World Health Organisation and attended by Ministers and representatives of 29 of the 32 states in the region, endorsed a charter on environment and health. In my address to the conference I drew attention to the United Kingdom's positive record both in relation to global environmental issues and to the protection of its citizens against environmental health risks, and to its commitment to provide a healthy environment for its population. I made it clear that the United Kingdom accepts the charter as a statement of general principles on environmental health protection but without prejudice to the development of international law in this area. I have placed copies of the charter and of my address in the Library.