§ 91. Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the continued dumping of pharmaceutical wastes in the North sea.
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§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryIn common with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who is responsible for licensing of the disposal of waste at sea, I have had a number of letters and representations from members of the public about the disposal of liquid industrial wastes. None of the wastes concerned is toxic and nor do they contain more than trace elements of contaminants such as metals. Use of the sea disposal option for this type of waste has been reduced by 50 per cent. since 1980 and is expected to end within a very few years as practicable land-based alternatives become available.