§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have recently taken place(a) at the Environment Council and (b) informally 535W between EC Environment Ministers over the plan by France to block the further import of waste for disposal from Germany; and what are the implications for (i) EC policy and (ii) United Kingdom policy of the French Government's position on waste exports between EC member states.
§ Mr. YeoThe impact of exports of surplus recyclable materials on member states was discussed at the Environment Council on 29 June. We share French concerns about the impact of such surpluses on our domestic recycling infrastructure, but I am not convinced that banning imports is the right way to solve the problem. However, the Government are urgently considering what action they can take to ensure that recycling capacity in the United Kingdom is sustained. EC policy on shipments of waste between member states is set out in the waste shipments regulation (259/93/EEC), which will apply from 6 May 1994.