§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 564W if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendation in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation, with regard to fundamental research, monitoring, forecasting and assessment of environmental changes.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom participates in the United Nations Environment Programme's "Earthwatch" which embraces monitoring, research, information exchange, and evaluation and review of environmental changes. We co-operate actively with the USSR on scientific aspects of monitoring under the UK/ USSR Joint Environmental Protection Agreement, and in the work of other international bodies. If the hon. Member requires further information on any specific aspect I shall be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendations in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation, with regard to improvement of environmental conditions in areas of human settlement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The relevant work programmes of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) are currently being restructured in the light of the recommendations of the Helsinki agreement on the improvement of environmental conditions in areas of human settlement. The United Kingdom participates actively in these programmes, and also in co-operative activities in this field, through UNEP, the EEC and other international organisations. This is also an area for joint work under the bilateral UK/USSR Environmental Protection Agreement. If the hon. Member requires further information on any specific aspect I shall be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendations in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation, with regard to nature conservation and nature reserves.
565W
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
In the field of nature conservation and nature reserves the United Kingdom participates actively in the co-operative work of the Council of Europe, UNESCO and UNEP. This is also an area for active co-operation under the UK/USSR Environmental Protection Agreement. If the hon. Member requires further information on any specific aspect I shall be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendations in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation, with regard to land utilisation and soils.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The relevant work programmes of the ECE are now directed toward implementation of the environmental recommendations of the Helsinki agreement. The United Kingdom participates fully in all projects concerned with land utilisation and soils, and also participates in co-operative activities in this field sponsored by UNESCO, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, the Council of Europe, and land reclamation is a co-operative work area under the UK/USSR Environmental Protection Agreement. If the hon. Member requires any further information on any specific aspect I shall be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendations in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation, with regard to protection of the marine environment.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom plays an active role in regional studies under the auspices of the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea and the Inter-gevernmental Oceanographic Commission. We have ratified the Oslo Convention on the 566W prevention of pollution by dumping from ships and aircraft at sea, and the London Convention on the prevention of pollution by dumping of wastes and other matters. We are a signatory to the Paris Convention on the prevention of marine pollution from land based sources. We are also considering with the USSR under the UK/USSR Environmental Protection Agreement possible co-operative studies on aspects of marine pollution which do not duplicate the work of other international bodies. If the hon. Member requires any further information on any specific aspect I shall be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendations in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation, with regard to water pollution control and fresh water utilisation.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom participates fully in the work programmes of the ECE concerned with water pollution control and fresh water utilisation. We participated fully in the recent UN Water Conference, and play a full part in other international activities in the UN, the EEC and other international bodies. The prevention of water pollution and the use of water resources is one of the co-operative work areas under the UK/USSR Joint Environmental Protection Agreement. If the hon. Member requires further information on any specific aspect I should be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken to implement the recommendations in Basket II, aims of co-operation, of the Helsinki agreement, fields of co-operation with regard to control of air pollution.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom is participating fully in the work of the ECE's Air Pollution Working Party, and in particular in its co-operative programme for the monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of pollutants in 567W Europe. The prevention of air pollution is one of the co-operative work areas under UK/USSR Joint Environmental Protection Agreement. We also participate in the work of the World Meteorological Organisation, the EEC and other international bodies in this field. If the hon. Member requires further information on any specific aspect, I shall be ready to write to him.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken, with reference to Basket II, possibilities for improving co-peration, of the Helsinki agreement, in regard to envirnmental research.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom participates fully in the co-operative environmental research work of the EEC and generally in the EEC's continuing efforts to fulfil the tasks allotted to it in the Final Act. The United Kingdom also co-operates actively through the EEC and other international organisations, and bilaterally with the USSR under the UK/USSR Environmental Protection Agreement, in research on problems related to the human envirop-ment. If the hon Member requires further information on any specific aspect I shall be ready to write to him.