HC Deb 18 October 1989 vol 158 cc138-9
15. Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects smokeless zones to be extended to the whole of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

It is for a district or islands council to decide in the first instance whether to declare a smoke control area. That step is most unlikely for the many parts of Scotland which are sparsely populated.

Mr. Riddick

I welcome that reply because it will ensure that the inhabitants of the Western Isles and other parts of Scotland will be allowed to continue to burn peat as they have been doing for many years. Is my hon. Friend aware that my local council, Kirklees, intends to extend smokeless zones to cover rural areas in my constituency? That would stop the hearth-holders of the graveship of Holme burning peat as they have done for many centuries. Does my hon. Friend agree that that extension is a major intrusion into the lives of ordinary country folk?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I am interested in what my hon. Friend says about West Yorkshire, but all areas in Britain must comply with the terms of the EC directive. In Scotland, apart from two districts in west central Scotland—Glasgow and Strathkelvin—the country meets the standards laid down by the EC directive on pollution by sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates. I stress that those two districts have received derogation until 1 April 1993 and that Scotland has made significant advances in that connection.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

Although hon. Members welcome the sudden interest of the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) in the welfare of people in rural communities in Scotland, does the Minister agree that the burning environmental issue in sparsely populated areas is Nirex's proposal to use Scotland for the disposal of nuclear waste? Is he aware that his counterpart in the Department of the Environment has not yet been advised by Nirex of the 12 additional sites in Scotland that are likely to be considered? Will the Scottish Office stand idly by and let Nirex use our country to dispose of its nuclear waste?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

No. Nirex is seeking to investigate the suitability of the geology at Sellafield and Dounreay. No decision can be taken until that has been done. Of course it is possible that neither site will prove suitable and that Nirex will require to reconsider site reselection, but I assure the hon. Lady that the facts in this issue will continually be made public.