§ Lord Swinfenasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Environment Council on 15th December.
Viscount St. DavidsThe Environment Council resumed its discussions on 15th December. My honourable friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside represented the UK. The Council agreed a common position on the Packaging Directive by qualified majority vote. The directive will set targets for member states for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste and will provide a framework which allows free circulation of packaging which meets essential requirements. The Council also adopted the decision agreed last March enabling the Community to ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The United Kingdom strongly supports Community ratification but abstained because of doubts about the choice of legal base.