§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are any alternative sites in Scotland available for the dumping of waste from the Invergordon smelter, currently being disposed of in the prawn breeding ground known as "The Barrows" in the Cromarty firth; and, if so, whether any of these possible sites are European Community regulated.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe whole question of the disposal of waste from the Invergordon smelter is currently under review. No licences for the disposal of this waste at sea have been issued since April. It is not necessary' to obtain the EC's authority to dump material in the sea but details of licences in respect of sites outwith United Kingdom baselines are notified to the Oslo Commission.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he expects to make a decision on the question of further licensing of the clumping of waste from the Invergordon smelter in the prawn breeding ground known as "The Barrows" in the Cromarty firth before the resumption of Parliament in October.
§ Mr. John MacKayI am not yet in a position to say when a decision will be announced.
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§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet the representatives of the prawn fishermen in the Cromarty firth area and the seaboard action committee, if so requested, to discuss the question of further licensing of the dumping of waste from the Invergordon smelter in that prawn breeding area of the firth known as "The Barrows".
§ Mr. John MacKayMy right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to meet fishermen in the Cromarty firth area about the question of further dumping of waste from the Invergordon smelter but officials met representatives of the fishing organisations earlier this month. Full account will be taken of the points made at that meeting before a final decision is taken.