Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the Paris commission on sea pollution recently held in Dublin.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe latest meeting of the Paris commission was held in Dublin between 19 and 22 June 1989. Progress was achieved across a wide range of topics relating to pollution of the seas from riverine inputs, atmospheric inputs and direct discharges. In particular, progress was reported on defining suitable control technologies for a number of industrial sectors.
The Paris commission has also carried forward work on pollution control arising from the second North sea conference and endorsed the agreements on the use of best available technology and the precautionary principle: the results of this work will be discussed by Ministers at the forthcoming North sea conference in the Hague next March.
The Paris commission continues to provide a valuable forum for developing measures for the protection of the north-east Atlantic waters.