§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to improve the effectiveness of the provisions of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 in controlling the import and movement of toxic waste in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierThe regulations enable waste disposal authorities effectively to control imports of hazardous waste. The parent European directive is however to be reviewed in the light of operation experience, revised definitions of hazardous waste and the Basel convention. The Government are contributing fully to the review and have made proposals to reduce the volume of transfrontier shipments and to extend controls. We are considering legislation to enable us to extend controls in the future.