§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions there have been about eco-labels with other EC countries and EU institutions in the last three months; and if he will make a statement about progress towards an eco-labelling system in the EU.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board has had discussions with the ecolabelling competent bodies in to her member states and with the Commission about the delays there have been in implementing the EC scheme. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade wrote expressing his concerns about the delays to the Commissioner for Industrial Affairs and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State raised this matter at the Environment Council on 4 October. The Council unanimously adopted conclusions condemning the Commission for the delays and calling upon it to act quickly to put matters right.