§ Mr. JanmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) under what circumstances his Department would decline to exercise the power of derogation from EC directives which had been granted; and if he will set out those circumstances;
(2) if he will make a statement on his understanding of the difference between the power of derogation from EC directives and the implementation of derogation from EC directives.
§ Mr. BaldryWe exercise the right to seek and apply derogations from environmental directives when necessary and justified. We would seek a derogation only where we foresaw a clear possibility that it would need to be used.