§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ratify the Aarhus Convention signed on 25 June 1998; and if she will make a statement. [26936]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government strongly support the Aarhus convention and signed the treaty when it opened for signature in 1998. The three underlying principles of transparency, participation and access to justice are central to achieving sustainable development.
The majority of the convention is already implemented in the UK although some legislative amendments will be necessary, in particular to the public access to environmental information regime. The Government intend to ratify the convention as soon as all of the necessary provisions are in place. The exact date by which this will be done is dependent on the legislative timetables of the devolved Administrations.