§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the adoption by the Council of the European Communities of export arrangements for non-ferous metal waste and scrap.
§ Mr. PattieAs requested by the House of Commons Select Committee on European Legislation, I wish to explain the agreement by the Government to the adoption of a Council regulation on export arrangements for certain types of non-ferrous metal scrap before it was possible for the Select Committee to scrutinise it.
The regulation provides for the continuation in 1987 of Community controls under which the export of aluminium and lead waste and scrap to third countries is subject to the issue of surveillance licences, and quota restrictions 11–12 per cent. higher than in 1986 are maintained on exports of copper waste and scrap and copper ash and residues to third countries.
In order that the controls which were in force during 1986 governing the export of non-ferrous waste and scrap to non-EC countries and to Spain could be continued into 1987, it was necessary to reach agreement on the proposed regulation by 31 December 1986. The Council meeting on 22 December was the last in 1986. Had agreement not been reached, difficulties would have been experienced by United Kingdom industry. I regret that normal parliamentary procedures were not followed on this occasion but in the circumstances I hope that the House will understand why it was felt best in the overall United Kingdom interest to act in this way.