HC Deb 17 October 1989 vol 158 c114W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what volumes of toxic, hazardous or special wastes have been exported from the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 for treatment and disposal abroad; and to which countries the waste was sent.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Firm information has been available only since the implementation in October 1988 of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988. These require, inter alia, that before any consignment of hazardous waste is transported to or from this country, the holder of the waste sends a copy of the completed consignment note to the Secretary of State. The Department has received no consignment notes for exports to date.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has no knowledge of any waste being exported before the implementation of the Transfrontier Regulations in 1988.