§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the letter received by the Prime Minister from European Commissioner Ripa di Meana about their failure to ensure that large public works, particularly in transport, are undertaken after, not before, the drawing up of environmental impact assessments, and if not why not.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has not received any letter from Commissioner di Meana, although letters have been received by my right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Transport. However, it is not normal practice to make public the contents of correspondence between the Government and the Commission.
Road schemes in this country have been subjected to a very thorough environmental assessment for many years. What the Commission is questioning is the application of specific procedures for assessments laid down by Directive 85/337/EEC to schemes which were already under consideration before the directive came into effect.