§ Lord Stanley of Alderleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for the systematic evaluation of the possible harmful effects of industrial chemicals.
The Earl of CaithnessThe Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office have recently published a consultation paper proposing that additional statutory powers should be introduced to evaluate and control the environmental hazard of existing chemicals. The consultation paper describes the powers available under existing legislation and proposes additional powers to obtain information about substances with the potential to cause environmental damage, to require testing when adequate information is not available, and to control the supply, storage or use of such substances when necessary. Interested organisations and individuals are invited to send their views to the Department of the Environment or the Welsh Office by 15th June 1989.