HC Deb 23 November 1995 vol 267 cc235-6W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he holds meetings with ministerial colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry with the specific intention of promoting the growth of the environmental industry. [1167]

Mr. Clappison

The Secretary of State and the President of the Board of Trade established the joint environmental markets unit following a meeting they held with the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. This DTI-DOE unit assists and encourages United Kingdom firms to exploit growing markets for environmental goods and services, on an on-going basis, and Ministers discuss the issues that arise as a result of the unit's work as and when required.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he has met his European counterparts to discuss the environmental technology industry across Europe in the last 12 months. [1155]

Mr. Clappison

My right hon. Friend has frequent meetings with his European counterparts to discuss a wide range of measures to improve environmental standards. The improvement of such standards will tend to create market opportunities for suppliers of environmental technology and services. Among the many matters discussed at Environment Councils attended by my right hon. Friend in the past 12 months has been the proposed amendment of the LIFE regulation, part of which the aim is to provide financial support for projects demonstrating an innovative use of environmental technology.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the level of tax revenue the environmental technology industry has contributed to the Treasury in the past five years. [1166]

Mr. Clappison

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what formal arrangements exist to assist co-operation between his Department and the Department for Education and Employment in relation to the environment technology industry. [1156]

Mr. Clappison

There are no such arrangements specifically related to the environmental technology industry. However, there is close co-operation between the Departments on improvement of the environmental content of education at all levels from primary school to university, and on development of environmental national vocational qualifications. This will promote greater environmental awareness among today's and tomorrow's industrial management and work force, and so in turn improve the climate for the environmental supply industry.