---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on the application of the precautionary principle included in Article 174 of the EC treaty and principle 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on the environment and development. [111426] Ms Beverley Hughes: The Government's policy on application of the precautionary principle is based on the Rio Declaration, and is set out in Chapter 4 of the Strategy for Sustainable Development for the UK, "A better quality of life" (page 23), a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House. A better quality of life specifies the precautionary principle as one of the 10 guiding principles and approaches that the Government will take account of in policy development. Based on the Rio Declaration definition, the Government's definition makes it clear that precautionary action requires assessment of the costs and benefits of action, and transparency in decision making. It also sees precaution as being relevant beyond environmental damage, to include affects on animal and human health.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

345 c7-8W; 111426

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Cost benefit analysis Environment protection EU law Standards Treaties Sustainable development Rio Declaration on Environment and Development