§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the scope of the EC LIFE programme on the environment over the period 1996 to 1999, indicating how it has changed from the first phase and those areas where the United Kingdom or British-based companies can benefit from the LIFE programme. [20383]
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Commission of the European Communities adopted a proposal for the second phase of the LIFE programme on 12 April 1995. his proposal will 471W now go through the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament under the co-operation procedure. Until this process has been completed, the scope of the programme cannot be known for certain, but it seems likely that United Kingdom companies will continue to be able to benefit in areas such as new cleaner technologies.