§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent applications his Department has received from the Australian Government supporting the plans of the Australian companies Carpentaria and Brambles, Australia, respectively, to import toxic waste into the United Kingdom from Australia for treatment; and what response has been made.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 5 June 1992]: The Australian Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories has written to my Department to seek a bilateral agreement under article 11 of the United Nations Environment Programme Basle convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. This would allow Australia to ship such waste to the United Kingdom for disposal. I have decided not to agree to the request, and we are replying accordingly.