§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the environmental action programme 1993–2000 launched by Commissioner Ripa di Meana on 18 March.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government played a full part in discussions leading to the adoption, at the Environment Council on 26 May, of preliminary conclusions concerning the environmental action programme "Towards Sustainability". The Council welcomed the presentation by the European Commission of the programme and undertook to ensure that the programme will be discussed so that it can become operative by 1 January 1993544W following the adoption of a resolution by the Council. Preparation of the resolution will fall to the United Kingdom presidency of the Council.
The Government have set out their initial views on the programme in an explanatory memorandum which will be presented to the Select Committee on European Legislation when the Committee is reconstituted. Copies of the explanatory memorandum have been placed in the Library of the House.