§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what national and international action is being taken by his Department to dissuade the owners of ships at present exempt from the ban on the use of tributyl-tin from using paints which contain this substance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe United Kingdom has reported the measures taken to date by the Government to the Commission of the European Communities, and a range of international organisations, the most relevant of which include the International Maritime Organisation and the Paris Commission. The CEC has reacted by proposing a directive which is closely modelled on the United Kingdom regulations. The House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities has recently published its opinion (HL Paper 23, February 1988) on the antifouling paint provisions in the draft directive (the 8th amendment to the marketing and use directive (76/769/ EEC)). The Government are considering their response to the Committee's report.