§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to monitor the dumping of highly poisonous chemical wastes in the North Sea; what international discussions, to which Her Majesty's Government is a party, are taking place regarding control of the dumping of such wastes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartUnder its voluntary arrangements for controlling the dumping of waste at sea, my Department evaluates each proposal and gives agreement only if it will cause no harm to fisheries or the marine environment. We would not agree to wastes containing significant quantities of poisonous substances being dumped in the North Sea. Fish and shellfish landed from all sources. including the North Sea, are monitored' by my Department's Fisheries Laboratory, and the United Kingdom is cooperating in a study of pollution of the North Sea under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The United Kingdom is also taking part in a series of discussions with other North Sea countries to consider joint measures for controlling pollution of the North Sea; a meeting is at present taking place in Oslo.