§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the European project priority waste streams initiative.
§ Mr. YeoSix priority waste streams projects have been launched by the European Commission. In a note to members of the various project groups issued on 1 July, the Commission stated that in the light of budgetary constraints, it had been decided to concentrate efforts on the work of the groups dealing with used tyres, chlorinated solvents, end of life vehicles and health care waste. These projects had been planned to finish towards the end of 1993 and early 1994. The outcome of the projects will be evaluated and used in guiding decisions about work on the remaining projects dealing with demolition waste and electronic and electrical waste.
The United Kingdom has participated fully in this work, which is aimed at devising Community-wide action to reduce the environmental impact of difficult wastes. My 145W Department has provided the project leadership for the project on health care waste; the project group had its fourth meeting on 1 and 2 July and is accelerating its programme of work so as to be in a position to produce some results by the end of the year.