Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North (Ms. Walley),Official Report, 4 July, column 564, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Brussels meeting on safe substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals, held on 4 and 5 July.
§ Mr. TrippierThe meeting held in Brussels on 4 and 5 July was attended by representatives of the member states of the European Community including officials from my Department, DTI, HSE, the European Commission; the United States Environmental Protection Agency and European industry. It afforded a valuable opportunity for an exchange of views on the introduction of safe substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals and their testing requirements. There was general agreement between European and United States officials on how to proceed further in the development of testing strategies and requirements for these substances.