HC Deb 31 March 1999 vol 328 c757W
Mr. Burgon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the policies in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste. [79820]

Mr. Meacher

Existing policies on exports and imports of waste are set out in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste, which came into effect on 1 June 1996. These reflect the long-standing UK commitment to self-sufficiency in waste disposal and the well-established proximity principle, namely that waste should be disposed of in, or as close as possible to, the country or origin.

Since the Plan has been in force, there have been a number of changes at national and international level which have altered the arrangements for transfrontier shipments of waste. My Department, along with other Government Departments, therefore intends to begin a review of the plan in the near future. We would aim to produce a document for public consultation in the Autumn of 1999.