§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of his speeches to(a) the Conservative and Unionist party conference and (b) the Tory green initiative fringe meeting on matters for which he has departmental responsibility at Bournemouth on 13 October.
§ Mr. GummerIn responding to the environment and planning debate I did not use a pre-prepared text. However in the course of my speech I confirmed that the Government had begun work on a major White Paper on the countryside; I announced that the Government intended to legislate to secure a dramatic increase in recycling of packaging waste; I announced the publication of draft legislation for the creation of the new environment agency in order to maintain this country's lead in developing methods of integrated pollution control; and I emphasised the importance of raising the quality of new development and the quality of the built environment generally.
At the fringe meeting of the Tory Green Initiative I discussed the outstanding record of the Conservative party in government in taking practical and specific action to deal with environmental issues and I emphasised the responsibility which falls to a party of government not to pretend that high environmental standards can be achieved without anyone anywhere having to meet the bill. I pointed to the fundamental inconsistency of the Opposition, who demand higher environmental standards while attacking the necessary means of delivery, in particular VAT on fuel, the sensible extension of water metering and additional taxation in petrol.