§ Mr. Lyellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the outcome of the Council of Environment Ministers meeting of 24 June.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI led the delegation at this meeting at which agreement was reached on a number of proposals, including a draft directive on lead in air and a regulation on Community implementation of the Washington convention on international trade in endangered species. The Council also agreed to support Community action for protection of seals.
Agreement on the Washington convention regulation had almost been achieved at the Council of Environment Ministers last December under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services. The reservations then expressed by certain member States were withdrawn, and the proposal was agreed.
The Council had a general discussion on the problem of seals following the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 11 March. I outlined the action already taken by the United Kingdom Government and stressed the need for action to take place within the framework of the Washington convention. The Commission announced its intention to bring forward proposals, including inclusion of the hooded seal in annex 1 of the Washington convention, as soon as possible.
In agreeing to a directive setting an air quality standard for lead designed to reduce people's exposure to lead in the environment, the Council rounded off the progress 187W made under the United Kingdom Presidency last year. This directive sets a limit of 2 micrograms of lead per cubic metre—the standard adopted by the Government in May 1981 on the recommendation of the Lawther working party.
The Council held a further exchange of views on the draft directive on environmental assessment. I emphasised the Government's commitment to the principle of assessing the environmental implications of major development proposals. However, I also made clear our belief that the directive currently proposed represented an undesirably rigid and inflexible approach to this. The Council agreed that the subject should be considered further in the light of the views expressed.
The Council agreed a resolution endorsing the need to continue the Community's work for the protection of the environment and emphasising the need for clear priorities. The Council will proceed with the examination of a draft third action programme in the light of the opinion of the European Parliament.
Also agreed was a directive on the monitoring of the environmental effects of waste from the titanium dioxide industry. This now requires a sensible level of monitoring which is generally in line with present United Kingdom practice and which will reinforce our broader aims of protecting the environment.
Agreement was reached on a Council decision designed to reinforce efforts to limit the effect of emissions of chlorofluorocarbons—CFCs—on the ozone layer. This continues the established Community policy of restricting production capacity and use of CFCs 11 and 12 in aerosols, provides a basis for work on other uses, and calls for a further report from the Commission in 1983.
Formal adoption also took place of some Community instruments which had been approved earlier by the
Number of Welsh employees in employment: manufacturing sector 1978–81* Thousands at June each year Industry 1978 1979 1980 1981 Food, drink and tobacco 18.3 19.0 18.0 16.0 Coal and petroleum products 5.3 23.0 22.0 20.0 Chemicals and allied industries 17.5 Metal manufacture 73.7 72.0 60.0 43.0 Mechanical engineering 27.5 117.0 112.0 96.0 Instrument engineering 3.3 Electrical engineering 33.1 Shipbuilding and marine engineering 1.2 Vehicles 29.21 Metal goods not elsewhere specified 21.8 Textiles 12.3 29.0 26.0 21.0 Leather, leather goods and fur 0.8 Clothing and footwear 15.4 Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 9.3 53.0 51.0 43.0 Timber, furniture, etc. 8.8 Paper, printing and publishing 13.0 Other manufacturing industries 20.9 Total all manufacturing industries 311.5 312.0 288.0 239.0 Sources: Welsh Office, Department of Employment. * The 1978 figures are based on the results of the employment census of that year. 1979–81 data are based on the Department of Employment's quarterly estimates. Note: Figures do not add up due to rounding.