§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent communications he has had with the European Commission on the application in the United Kingdom of EC directive 78/319/EEC on toxic and dangerous waste.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Commission has made three informal inquiries about the directive within the last six months.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current status of council regulation COM(92)601 final SYN276 of 4 January on the evaluation and control of environmental risks of existing substances, following the re-examination by the European Commission.
§ Mr. MacleanI refer the hon. Member to explanatory memorandum No. 4260/93 submitted by the Department of the Environment and the Department of Employment on 18 February. As the memorandum said, the regulation is expected to be adopted by the Council of Ministers on 23 March, and will come into force 60 days after publication in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities.