§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has completed consideration of responses received to the consultation paper on the implementation in the United Kingdom of the European directive on environmental assessment which he issued in April 1986; what steps he proposes to take to implement this directive; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what new legislative provisions he anticipates will be required to supplement the existing town and country planning legislation in order fully to implement the European directive on environmental assessment.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe consultation paper of April 1986, includes legislative proposals in relation to projects in England and Wales which fail to be approved under the Town and Country Planning Acts. It is proposed to bring these provisions into effect by statutory instrument under the European Communities Act 1972 before 2 July 1988, the date by which the directive requires member states to take the measures necessary to comply with the directive. The responses to the consultation paper are still being considered.