HC Deb 27 June 1990 vol 175 cc283-4W
Mr. Ward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to speeding up the prohibition of the dumping of sewage and other waste in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I hope to publish shortly a guidance note on implementation in the United Kingdom of the decisions agreed at the Hague conference on the North sea on 7 and 8 March. The conference was concerned with all types of waste input to the sea, including the dumping from ships of treated sewage sludge and sewage discharges to coastal waters. On these matters the United Kingdom policy remains as set out in the answer given respectively by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. French) on 5 March and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 5 March.