§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to propose that a meeting of each EC nation's environmental inspectorate will also include the environmental authorities of central and eastern European nations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government attach importance to improving the quality of inspection through, inter alia, exchanging information and experience. To this end, in November last year, the United Kingdom presidency launched the network of EC environmental enforcement agencies. The value of participation in the network by central and east European countries can be assessed in due course when we have had more experience of how the network is working and taking account of other options that may be available. The Department is already providing some advice and assistance to central and east European inspectorates through the environmental know-how fund.