HL Deb 07 February 1989 vol 503 cc1546-7WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have conducted, and if so whether they will publish, environmental assessments of the following policy decisions: (a) the privatisation of the water industry; (b) the privatisation of electricity supply; (c) the cancellation of UK nuclear fusion research; and (d) the cancellation of United Kingdom fast breeder reactor work, in the light of the statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment to the Conference on New Directions in Planning Law to the effect that "There is an unanswerable case for environmental assessments of schemes which may have significant environmental effects".

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)

The Government support wholeheartedly the use of environmental assessment techniques in the decision-making process for development projects which are likely to have significant environmental effects. To this end we have made regulations implementing the European Communities Directive on environmental assessment (85/337/EEC). Environmental considerations are taken fully into account, together with all other relevant considerations, when policies and programmes which might affect the environment are formulated. How this is done varies from case to case. Such decisions are not covered by the EC Directive.

The Government are continuing to fund nuclear fusion research and fast reactor work as set out in the announcements of 21st July and 27th October 1988.