§ Viscount Ullswater asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What was the outcome of the Environment Council on 9th December 1996.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council on 9th December.
The Council reached political agreement on a common position on the decision on the review of the Fifth Environment Action Plan, and on the amendment of Directive 90/219 (on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms). An amendment to the waste shipments regulation was agreed, subject to a United Kingdom parliamentary scrutiny reserve. The Council also discussed climate change issues at some length but Council conclusions put forward by the Presidency were not agreed.
The Council discussed the proposed framework agreement on leghold traps. The Council was concerned that the draft agreement which was on offer would allow some forms of leghold traps to continue to be used. The Council therefore requested the Commission to re-open negotiations with third countries with a view to achieving a more satisfactory agreement and, in parallel, to take steps to prepare for the introduction of an import ban by no later than 31st March 1997.
The Council also expressed its concern about the delay in the decision which is needed from the Commission on the application to market genetically modified maize in the Community. My right honourable
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Number of Section 2 convictions 75 84 78 74 83 70 76 78 62 62 32 Source:
Table 4.7 from the Homicide Chapter of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1995" (note: figures relate to year that the offence was initially recorded, correct to 5th August 1996 but will be revised as further information comes to light there being 336 suspects awaiting trial at that date).
146WAfriend joined calls for this to be made as soon as possible.
The Council agreed a resolution which sets the framework for the future Community waste strategy. The Council also agreed conclusions on the development of the European Union position for the special session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 1977, which will review progress since the Rio earth summit.
The Council took note of progress under the Irish Presidency of negotiations on the auto-oil programme; the revision of the Drinking Water Directive; the rules and procedures applying to shipments to certain non-OECD countries of certain types of waste; and proposals for the funding of environmental non-governmental organisations.