Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department first learned of the intention of the owners of the German registered Karin B cargo ship to dock and unload its 2,000 tonnes of chemical waste at Neath; what was his Department's response; and how many meetings have been subsequently held with(a) the Institute of Wastes Management (b) the National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors and (c) officials of the environment directorate of the European Commission with regard to the destination of the toxic cargo on the Karin B.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMy Department learnt of the proposal for Karin B to dock at Neath on 26 August. There have been subsequent meetings with IWM and NAWDC as part of the normal round of business in waste management and the Karin B incident was among the topics discussed. There have been no meetings with the EC Commission on this matter.