HC Deb 15 January 1990 vol 165 cc130-1

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Environmental Protection Bill, it is expedient to authorise—

  1. (a) the imposition of charges in connection with any authorisations, licences, consents or registrations required by that Act or any Act amended by that Act; and
  2. (b) the payment of any sums into the Consolidated Fund.—[Mr. Heathcoat-Amory.]

11 pm

Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

Is this debatable?

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Paul Dean)

Yes, it is.

Mr. Dalyell

I do not want to take up the time of the House, although I understand that this debate is open-ended. I just want to give the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment the opportunity to finish what he was saying in answer to the questions I had previously asked.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. I must remind the House and the hon. Gentleman that this is an extremely narrow motion relating purely to fees and charges. Nothing else is in order on the ways and means resolution.

Mr. Dalyell

My Questions, as always, were narrow—no one could say that they were not. Therefore, I believe that they were so narrow as to be in order. I am sure that the Minister's answer will be equally narrow.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory)

Mindful of your injunction, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I shall not stray out of order. I must write to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) about the points that he has raised, unless he has specific points relating to the charges under the Bill.

Mr. Dalyell

The specific question on money is, who will decide what is a United Kingdom issue and what is a Scottish issue? That Question relates to charges as the charges will be carried in one respect by the Scottish Office and in another respect by who knows? Perhaps they will be carried by the joint statutory committee. To whom does that committee respond? Is it to the Secretary of State for the Environment?

On the narrow issue of charges my question is linked to the lack of responsibility. Where does the responsibility lie ultimately when there is a difference of opinion, as there will be, about the flow country? That was one of the cases—

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. I find it difficult to relate what the hon. Gentleman is saying with the ways and means resolution, which deals with fees and charges payable under certain clauses of the Bill. It would be out of order to extend the debate beyond that.

Mr. Dalyell

I am not for abusing the procedure of the House. I therefore hope that the Minister will take note of my questions and answer them, as he has promised, by letter.

Question put and agreed to.

    c131
  1. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS, &c. 18 words
      2. c131
    1. COMMUNITY DRIVING LICENCE 25 words
    c131
  2. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DOCUMENTS 18 words
      3. c131
    1. PROTECTION OF ANIMALS DURING TRANSPORT 33 words