HC Deb 25 May 1979 vol 967 cc284-5W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Government policy on the implementation in the United Kingdom of the sixth modification of the 1967 EEC directive on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances; whether United Kingdom legislation will be introduced to implement the directive; and whether it is his policy to press through the EEC for a mutual recognition accord with the United States Environmental Protective Agency.

Mr. King

The sixth amendment to the 1967 directive has yet to be agreed, but existing legislation provides adequate powers to introduce regulations to implement a scheme. Discussions on points of common interest are already taking place between the EEC and the United States, and both parties will be better able to identify and discuss specific issues when their respective regulations have been put into effect.

Mr. Guy Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the hazard arising from concentrations of potentially dangerous metals on housing estates in Greenwich and elsewhere; what action he believes is necessary to protect the populations involved; how much such programmes should cost; and what asistance he will make available from central Government funds to assist local authorities which are involved.

Mr. Fox

Local authorities have statutory responsibilities for dealing with problems arising from the development of contaminated land; the Department provides technical advice where necessary, and is doing so for two sites in Greenwich. Costs of remedial action depend on the nature of the problem: where costs fall on local authorities' rate funds, these count as relevant expenditure for rate support grant purposes.