§ Mr. BurgonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the United Nations Basel Protocol on Liability and Compensation for damage resulting from transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, which opened for signature on 6 March. [126234]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Basel Liability and Compensation Protocol was concluded on 10 December 1999 at the 5th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, after nearly 10 years of negotiation. It provides for a comprehensive regime for liability and for adequate and prompt compensation for damage resulting from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
We shall shortly be consulting widely on the potential implications of the United Kingdom signing and ratifying this Protocol. These views will be taken into account in reaching a decision as to whether the United Kingdom should proceed with signature.