§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the reason for the proposed increase in expenditure between 1993–94 and 1994–95, on hazardous wastes, as set out in figure 10 of his annual report and expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm. 2507.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe expenditure represents contributions to trust funds established under the UNEP Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal. Until this year, the United Kingdom made voluntary contributions of United States $50,000 to support the work of the convention. From 1994, the United Kingdom is required to make a mandatory contribution as a party to the convention of United States $119,930. The United Kingdom also makes additional voluntary contributions to the Basel technical trust fund which assists developing and other countries in need of assistance to implement the convention.
Since the figures in Cm. 2507 were finalised, it has been agreed that the United Kingdom should pay its mandatory contribution at the start of the relevant calendar year. As a result the first mandatory payment will now fall in 1993–94 and total payments in 1993–94 will be £131,807.