§ Mr. DykesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish technical guidance about identifying, phasing out and destroying polychlorinated biphenyls following the decisions of the third North sea conference; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy right hon. Friend is today publishing a new waste management paper 6, polychlorinated biphenyls: it supersedes the existing waste management paper 6, which was published in 1976. Because polychlorinated biphenyls are environmentally harmful, their use has been progressively restricted since the 1970s. Some older equipment, particularly electrical equipment, nevertheless still contains PCBs, in quantity: these remaining PCBs must be prevented from causing any significant increase in the existing environmental PCB load. The eight North sea states therefore agreed to phase out and destroy all identifiable PCBs by 31 December 1999. A consequent United Kingdom draft action plan is the subject of current consultations. The technical guidance in the new waste management paper 6 will enable industry, commerce and the public sector to identify disposal measures for their remaining PCBs. I commend waste management paper 6 to all managers with a responsibility for premises or equipment. I am placing copies of the paper in the Library of the House.