§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on the setting of environmental targets. [3143]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Government consider that sustainable development targets can be important and are ready to set quantified targets where this would be sensible. Such targets must be underpinned by scientific analysis and an assessment of the likely costs and benefits—including those to the environment. The Government list the quantified targets that they have agreed or are considering in their "The Common Inheritance" annual reports.