HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc134-5W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures he has taken or will take to meet the obligation under the Basle convention article 4(2a) to ensure that the generation of hazardous waste within the United Kingdom is reduced to a minimum taking into account social, technological and economic aspects;

(2) what measures he has taken or will take to meet the obligation under the Basle convention article 4(9a) to ensure that transboundary movement of hazardous waste will be allowed only if the United Kingdom does not have the technical capacity, necessary facilities or suitable disposal sites to dispose of the wastes in an environmentally sound manner;

(3) how he will ensure that exporters of hazardous waste comply with the obligation under the Basle convention article 4(8) and article 4(10) to which the United Kingdom becomes a full party on 8 May, to ensure that hazardous waste exported for recycling before 31 December 1997 is managed in an environmentally sound manner; which United Kingdom authorities will be responsible; what guidance he plans to issue to exporters and the relevant authorities; who will carry the costs of meeting this obligation; what extra resources will be made available to the relevant authorities; and what action he will take to prevent waste shipments where the exporter has not yet demonstrated that he can meet the obligation;

(4) what redress will be available in the United Kingdom from the date when the United Kingdom becomes a full party to the Basle convention to those harmed by hazardous waste exports from the United Kingdom before 31 December 1997 which are not managed in an environmentally sound manner, in contravention of the Basle convention article 4(8).

Mr. Atkins

On waste minimisation I would refer the hon. Member to chapter 23 of "Sustainable Development: the UK Strategy", Cm 2426, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

The hon. Member may have misinterpreted article 4(9) of the Basle convention. I would refer him to sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of that article, which are equal in weight to sub-paragraph (a). Sub-paragraph (b) allows for the movement of wastes where they are required as a raw material for recycling or recovery industries in the state of import; and sub-paragraph (c) allows for waste movements which are in accordance with other criteria to be decided by the parties.

The obligations of the Basle convention will be implemented in the European Community by council regulation EEC 259/93. As regards the hon. Member's reference to paragraphs (8) and (10) of article 4 of the Basle convention, I have nothing to add to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva) on 2 March, Official Report, column 714, and my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 30 March, Official Report, columns 866-67.

The Government aim fully to comply with their obligations under the Basle convention to require that hazardous wastes or other wastes exported from the United Kingdom are managed in an environmentally sound manner.

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