HC Deb 09 May 1988 vol 133 cc21-2W
Mr. Wyn Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to reverse the provision of the European Community directive on environmental assessment 84/337/EEC which excludes from mandatory environmental assessment major projects such as port expansion, docks and estuarial barrages effected through private Bills.

Mr. Waldegrave

Article 1.5 of the directive providesThis Directive shall not apply to projects the details of which are adopted by a specific act of national legislation, since the objectives of this Directive, including that of supplying information, are achieved through the legislative process". Private Bill procedures are matters for Parliament and are at present under consideration by the Joint Committee on Private Bill Procedure.