HC Deb 30 November 1989 vol 162 c366W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost to industry and the consumer of the work of the European Environmental Agency.

Mr. Trippier

The proposed agency will assemble and analyse information on the environment from a network of national institutions and organisations. There is no intention to place further burdens on industry or to increase costs to the consumer.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report those he consulted in formulating his policy on the establishment of a European Environmental Agency.

Mr. Trippier

The Government's policy on the establishment of the agency has been formulated in the light of the normal round of discussions between the relevant Government Departments.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the nature of the property-owning powers of the European Environmental Agency.

Mr. Trippier

The draft Council regulation contains articles stating that the European Environment Agency shall have a legal personality and that standard EC property rights as laid down in the protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities, annexed to the treaty of Rome, shall apply.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated capital and revenue costs of establishing and running the European Environmental Agency.

Mr. Trippier

The total costs of establishing and running the European Environment Agency in its first year, as estimated by the Commission of the European Communities, is 5.5 million ecu. The division between capital and revenue costs is not available.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what negotiations he has had with his European Community counterparts to establish a system for the voluntary exchange and publishing of information regarding environmental matters.

Mr. Trippier

A number of Community instruments such as the industrial air pollution framework directive allow for information about environmental matters to be exchanged. The Commission also publishes environmental information from member countries in its periodic state of the environment reports. Discussions have also been taking place to establish a comprehensive system for the voluntary exchange and publication of environmental information in the context of the proposed regulation establishing a European Environment Agency.