§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the statements by Mr. Gay Mitchell, President in Office for the Council of Ministers at the Council question time in the European Parliament on 13 November in respect of an environmental audit of Dounreay. [5003]
§ Mr. PageThe President in Office of the Council of Ministers appears to share my view about the overriding importance of the health and safety of workers and the general public. Because safety is paramount Dounreay is subject to rigorous independent regulation by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency: consequently, there is no need for the Commission to undertake an environmental audit, and it has no powers to do so.