Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what input has been made by United 231W Kingdom officials into the United Nations environment programme meetings in February, June and September to discuss the formulation of an international convention to control the movement of 44 types of hazardous wastes.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyUnited Kingdom officials are participating fully in the development of an effective international convention by UNEP, which takes into account related work already done in the EC and OECD.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain a copy of the transcript of the comments made by the European Economic Community Environment Commissioner on BBC Radio 4's "The World At One" on 30 August concerning the non-implementation of the European Community directive on transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste; and if he will make a statement on the criticisms of Her Majesty's Government by the commissioner.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI have not yet seen the transcript of the Commissioner's comments concerning directive 84/631/EEC but the necessary regulations were laid in Parliament on 14 September. The majority of other member states have yet to implement the directive.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his Department's consultation paper on special hazardous wastes; and to whom he expects to circulate the paper.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe plan to issue a consultation paper reviewing the special waste regulations early in 1989 and to consult the widest possible range of organisations with interests in this matter.