§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent United Nations Economic Commission for Europe discussions on limiting the use of persistent organic pollutants as they affect the United Kingdom. [12406]
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 27 January 1997]: The first formal negotiations on a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe agreement for reducing emissions 136W of persistent organic pollutants took place last week in Geneva. They affirmed that the proposed protocol should be based on the sound scientific assessment of the environmental and health risks associated with the long-range air transport of these substances. The United Kingdom has been actively involved in developing this scientific underpinning over several years. Within the United Kingdom, the pollutants identified for inclusion in the protocol are already strictly controlled or banned.