§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for letters to be written by his regional offices to all harbour authorities and to all boatyards asking what actions they are proposing to take 270W to minimise the amount of antifouling debris being washed into the water from boats being stripped of TBT antifouling paints; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAuthoritative advice on the stripping of antifouling paints from small boats is set out in the leaflet "Don't Foul Things Up," published last year. This should have reached all boatyards and harbour authorities. The leaflet is being revised, and similar advice dealing with larger vessels is being prepared. I shall ensure that this guidance also is sent to all boatyards and harbour authorities. It is in everyone's interest to take account of this advice and I do not believe that individual approaches. to boatyards and harbour authorities would be justified.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement as to the extent to which he will permit International Paints to continue to use areas of the River Yealm for experimental purposes, including the testing of various toxic paints; and if he will consider restricting the area and the length of time such experiments should be permitted in any one river.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAll experimental use of testing facilities for antifouling paints are governed by part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The relevant provisions come into force on 1 July 1987. The detailed arrangements which will apply in such cases are still under consideration.