§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on plans by Lanstar Wimpey Waste in Cadishead to import toxic waste from Italy.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe Secretary of State has received no such reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. However, he has received copies of notifications under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 of imports of hazardous waste from Italy by Lanstar Wimpey Waste in Cadishead.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to establish whether plans by United Kingdom toxic waste management and disposal companies to import toxic waste from Italy are in compliance with the European Community directive on the transfrontier transport of waste and the Basel convention guidelines.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 18 October 1990]: The Secretary of State has taken no such steps. The enforcement of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988, which implement Council directives 84/631/EEC and 86/279/EEC is the responsibility of the disposal authorities for the areas in which consignees operate their facilities, not the Secretary of State. The question of compliance with the Basel convention does not arise because the convention is not yet in force. However, the Secretary of State is pressing for the European Community and member states to move rapidly towards ratification.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any notification from ReChem International in regard to its plans to process 150 tonnes of toxic waste from the Karin B waste carrier ship.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 18 October 1990]: The Secretary of State has received copies of notifications under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations of a number of shipments of hazardous waste from Italy to ReChem International's plant at Fawley, Southampton. It is not possible to tell from the documents whether any of the waste was ever on board the Karin B. The purpose of notification is to establish whether the disposal facility can deal with the waste in question, not to give its history. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales receives copies of notifications of shipments of hazardous waste from Italy to ReChem International's plant at Pontypool.