§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the on-cost to business of the implementation of the European initiated waste management strategy; and if he will make a statement. [8961]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe European initiated waste strategy does not have any legal force and as such it has no direct cost implications for business. It is simply a review, largely summarising existing EU policies, which will provide a framework for future work.
Any specific proposals which may arise as a result will of course require a compliance cost assessment to be undertaken before passing into United Kingdom law. We would also expect the Commission to produce a fiche d'impact. In negotiations for any future proposals, the UK will always take into consideration the important balance between the need to improve environmental standards and practices against the costs to industry.