HC Deb 29 March 1996 vol 274 cc767-8W
Mr. Elletson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on which criteria and within which time scale he expects to respond to reports produced by the royal commission on environmental pollution. [23063]

Mr. Clappison

We have told the chairman of the royal commission that our general aim is to respond to its reports in nine to 12 months, but that a different timetable may be appropriate in particular cases.

Mr. Elletson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number and title of the reports of the royal commission on environmental pollution to which the Government have(a) responded and (b) not responded indicating for (b) the factors underlying the absence of response. [23064]

Mr. Clappison

The Government have responded to the following reports by the royal commission on environmental pollution:

  • First Report.
  • 2nd Report: "Three Issues in Industrial Pollution".
  • 3rd Report: "Pollution in some British Estuaries and Coastal Waters".
  • 4th Report: "Pollution Control: Progress and Problems".
  • 5th Report: "Air Pollution Control: an Integrated Approach".
  • 6th Report: "Nuclear Power and the Environment".
  • 7th Report: "Agriculture and Pollution".
  • 8th Report: "Oil Pollution of the Sea".
  • 9th Report: "Lead in the Environment".
  • 10th Report: "Tackling Pollution—Experience and Prospects".
  • 11 th Report: "Managing Waste: The Duty of Care".
  • 12th Report: "Best Practicable Environmental Option".
  • 13th Report: "The Release of Genetically Engineered Organisms to the Environment".
  • 14th Report: "GENHAZ—a system for the critical appraisal of proposals to release genetically modified organisms into the environment".
  • 15th Report: "Emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles".
  • 16th Report: "Freshwater Quality".
  • 17th Report: "Incineration of Waste".

The Government have not yet responded to the following: 18th Report: "Transport and the Environment". The Government are considering the royal commission report in the light of responses to the national transport debate. A report drawing together all the threads of the national debate will be produced during 1996. 19th Report: "Sustainable Use of Soil". The Government are considering this report, which was published on 29 February, and will respond in due course.

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