§ Mr. Jim Spicerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government are yet able to give their position on the current EEC draft directive (COM (80) 313 final of 11 June 1980) on the assessment of the environmental effects of certain public and private projects.
§ Mr. KingThe Government readily support the principle of environmental assessment. However, we have reservations, both of principle and of detail, about the draft directive proposed by the EC Commission. Because of the varying circumstances of projects and the need for flexibility and speed in decision-making we have considerable doubts about the practicality and wisdom of legislating in the way currently proposed.