Written question asked by Countess of Mar (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 April 2008.

Toxic Chemicals

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the negotiations between Monsanto and the Environment Agency Wales, Monsanto accepted possible United Kingdom liability for Brofiscin Quarry only, deferred to the future with full legal defences.

Answer: Brofiscin Quarry is listed as a legacy site in Appendix B to a relationship agreement made between Solutia Inc and Monsanto, approved by the United States bankruptcy court, which allocates environmental liabilities between the companies. This means that if there are any environmental liabilities attributable to Solutia/Monsanto at Brofiscin Quarry, Monsanto will take on those liabilities subject to legal or factual defences available to it in the United Kingdom. Monsanto will also be liable on the same basis and subject to the same defences for other similar but unlisted waste disposal sites in the United Kingdom that received wastes prior to 1997.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 700 c184WA; 2475
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Waste Management: Brofiscin Quarry
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Written questions
House of Lords; Waste Management: Brofiscin Quarry
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Contamination Chemicals Liability Waste disposal Monsanto Brofiscin Quarry
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk