§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the establishment of an environmental protection agency in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Tim SmithIn Northern Ireland most of the functions of the proposed agency in England and Wales are already carried out by one body, the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment. I will decide whether or not any proposals for change in Northern Ireland should be made when final details of the proposed agency in England and Wales are known and when I have received the results of the prior options study of the Environment Service which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 18 January 1994.