§ Mr. Redmondto ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to halve the number of dangerous substances that are listed in the United Kingdom red list; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe ministerial declaration following the second international conference on the protection of the North sea called for substantial reductions (of the order of 50 per cent.) by 1995 in the total quantity of substances which are toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulate entering the North sea via rivers and estuaries.
The United Kingdom reduction programme will focus in particular on a "red list" of the most dangerous substances, proposals for the selection of which were set out in a consultation paper published in July. That paper also included proposals for a new approach towards controlling inputs of the most dangerous substances, involving the application of strict environmental quality standards, the use of best available technology (not entailing excessive cost) for the main point source discharges, and measures to minimise inputs from diffuse sources. These proposals are in line with the range of measures recommended in the North sea conference declaration for the purpose of reducing inputs of the most dangerous substances.
In the meantime, the Department has asked the water authorities in England and Wales to produce action plans setting out their proposals for achieving early reductions in inputs of dangerous substances. Similar plans are being drawn up for Scotland and Northern Ireland. There is certainly no proposal to halve the number of dangerous substances that are being considered for inclusion in the United Kingdom "red list" as the hon. Member's question suggests.