§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to provide assistance to Bermuda in respect of the disposal of asbestos waste. [37573]
§ Mr. ClappisonDecision on the disposal of Bermuda's asbestos wastes are matters for the Government of Bermuda. I understand that a number of options are under consideration, including seeking disposal on land in the United Kingdom, but no final decisions have been taken.
Should Bermuda wish to export asbestos waste to the United Kingdom for disposal on land, this would require a formal agreement between the two Governments for the purpose of the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal.
Any request from Bermuda for such an agreement would be considered on its merits, in accordance with the policies set out in the United Kingdom management plan for exports and imports of waste, copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those sites in the United Kingdom licensed to take(a) blue, (b) brown and (c) white asbestos waste. [37571]
§ Mr. ClappisonThis information is not held by my Department. The Environment Agency is required to maintain a public register of waste management licence applications made to it and of licences which it has granted. Whether or not a particular site would take asbestos waste would depend on the terms of the licence granted by the agency.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the imports of asbestos for disposal into the United Kingdom from(a) OECD and (b) non-OECD countries in each of the last of 10 years. [37572]
§ Mr. ClappisonI will write to the hon. Member shortly.