§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of the End of Life Vehicles Directive on which a common position was sought at the meeting of the Environment Council on 11 March; [78455]
(2) which of the items contained in Appendix J, dated 3 March, considered by European Standing Committee C on 9 March were not agreed by other member states at the Environment Council on 11 March; [78459]
(3) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 11 March; and the prospects for adoption of a common position on end of life vehicles at the next meeting of the Environment Council; [78456]
(4) what aspects of the draft text of the End of Life Vehicles Directive put forward by the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs were agreed by other member states at the EU Environment Council on 11 March; and if he will make a statement. [78458]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 24 March 1999]: In order to inform the debate in European Standing Committee C on 9 March, the Government prepared a paper reflecting broadly the outcome which they hoped to achieve in negotiating a common position. A copy of this text (Appendix J to the Memorandum submitted by my hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs to European Standing Committee C on 3 March) has now been placed in the Libraries of the House. As I explained in my answer on 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 582–83, the Council decided to defer a final decision on the Directive until its next meeting on 24/25 June. I am optimistic that a satisfactory common position will be achieved at that meeting.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of the documents which he put before the Environment Council on 11 March. [78457]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 24 March 1999]: The United Kingdom put no documents before the Council.