§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what European Community funds will be directed to the European environment statistics office in 1990–91 and 1991–92.
§ Mr. TrippierA separate European environment statistics office does not exist. A four-year programme to develop regular official statistics of the environment is currently being proposed within the statistical office of the European Communities. The proposed budget for the period amounts to 13.3 million ecu, approximately £9.3 million, with £0.7 million earmarked for 1990, £1.9 million for 1991, £2.8 million for 1992 and £3.9 million for 1993.
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§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost to the Economic Community each year since its inception of the European environment statistics office.
§ Mr. TrippierA separate European environment statistics office does not exist. The statistical office of the European Communities collects, co-ordinates and disseminates statistics to assist in the formulation and monitoring of a wide range of Community policies. The office is mainly concerned with economic and social statistics; its programme of work on environmental statistics has only recently begun with appropriations being met from the general budget of the European Communities.