§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade in what ways he intends to explore within the European Community alternatives to a command and control approach to environmental protection as set out in the letter by the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology to Lord Ezra of 17 June 1993.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe United Kingdom national sustainable development strategy, published on 25 January, restates the Government's commitment to using economic instruments, where appropriate, as an alternative to a command and control approach to environmental protection.
The European Commission has also made clear its wish to use such instruments—most recently in its communication to the Council, "Making the most of the Internal Market: Strategic Programme" (COM (93) 632 final). Officials are in touch with the Commission as specific proposals for action are developed.
In addition the Government have invited the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment to advise, from the business perspective, on the circumstances in which economic instruments, regulation or other policy instruments would be the most appropriate means for achieving environmental goals. This work will help to inform our examination of future EC proposals for environmental protection measures.