§ Mr. Roger EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in phasing out the dumping of industrial waste at sea; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI can confirm that, in accordance with my statement of 22 February 1990, this practice has now been brought to an end. The final licence for sea disposal of liquid industrial waste expired at the end of February and no further licences for disposal of industrial waste at sea will now be issued.
I have taken this action well ahead of our commitment under the London convention to phase out sea disposal of industrial waste globally by 1995. This action also anticipates new arrangements agreed last year under the Paris convention on the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic.