§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with members of Cheshire county council in respect of proposals to import domestic waste from America.
§ Mr. RidleyMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Member for Lewisham East (Mr. Moynihan) met members of Cheshire county council, who were accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler).
The council members made clear their concern about the proposal to import domestic waste from USA for disposal in their area. They said that it would have serious consequences for the county's long-term waste disposal plan, would pose problems for the satisfactory supervision and operation of the site and would involve risks for plant and animal health.
The Minister shared the council's concerns, but said that under existing statutory arrangements it was first for the council, as operator of the site in question and as waste disposal authority and planning authority for the area, to decide on the proposal before it. He pointed out that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food maintains a constant vigilance against the risk of diseases coming into this country in material of animal or plant origin, and any proposals to import such material would have to satisfy him that no risk exists.