§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on how his Department plans to meet its target to promote environmental awareness and best practice as set out in his departmental MINIS 93, part Four, environmental section, page 15.
§ Mr. McLoughlinPlans for achieving my Department's environmental objectives are shown on pages 3 to 9 of the environmental section, part 4 of the departmental MINIS 93.
154WThe Department has published a number of practical guides on matters relevant to the environmental performance of business, including waste minimisation, alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and export opportunities, and more are planned. A more general booklet, "The environment—a business guide" endorsed by the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (ACBE) was launched on 13 October with the aim of helping smaller firms in particular to improve their environmental performance. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Department supports or participates in a wide range of seminars and exhibitions to raise awareness of environmental issues and continues to operate a telephone environmental inquiry point—freephone 0800 585794—which provides a comprehensive information and signposting service to business. It is also supporting a number of local environmental self-help initiatives including five local business and environment clubs established under a programme recommended by ACBE.
Together with the Department of the Environment, my Department is also funding the development and administration in the United Kingdom of the European Community eco-labelling scheme, which aims to encourage environmentally sound product and process design, and the European Community eco-management and audit scheme which will encourage the adoption of best environmental management practice.