§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister, if she will make a statement on the role of each Government 691W Department involved in the licensing of dangerous substances, the controls over the shipment of such substances, the rescuing and disposal of cargoes containing such substances in case of accident and the monitoring and clearing up of the after effects of any accident.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Department of the Environment is responsible for the general oversight of waste, including dangerous waste. A scheme for the notification of new substances is run jointly by the Health and Safety Executive and DoE. On registration of agricultural pesticides, the lead is taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Department of Transport is responsible for the regulation of the carriage of dangerous goods including waste, with specialist advice from the Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority as necessary.
EC Directive 84/631/EEC, and the related United Kingdom regulation, deal with the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste. International movement of dangerous substances by sea is governed by the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1981 and in practice means compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
The marine pollution control unit in DTp is responsible for dealing with spillage and clearing up after accidents. If such goods are brought ashore here for disposal they would have to be dealt with at a suitable facility by a local authority. In serious cases advice on disposal would be available from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.