HC Deb 27 February 1991 vol 186 cc970-1
11. Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on implementing the proposals set out in the White Paper on the environment.

Mr. Heseltine

The Government continue to make very good progress in implementing their White Paper strategy.

Mr. Caborn

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, but does he agree that the implementation of many of the recommendations in the White Paper could proceed faster if resources were made available to local authorities to carry them out? On 1 April the new controls on air emissions will come into effect and 25 of those controls will be the responsibility of local authorities, but two authorities, Northampton and Langbaurgh, have already dismantled their control units. That is a bad omen for the implementation of many of the other White Paper proposals. Those authorities have abandoned control units because of a lack of financial resources.

Mr. Heseltine

I do not believe that any local authority will forgo its statutory responsibilities. I sincerely believe that our proposals for integrated pollution control and the inspectorate that will back that up will have a profound and desirable effect.

Mr. Anthony Coombs

Although I welcome many of the proposals in the Water Act 1989, which gives the National Rivers Authority far greater powers, I urge my right hon. Friend to make far greater use of the "polluter pays" principle so that the pricing policy of companies takes into account their responsibility towards the environment—a responsibility which will be met through their own financial incentives.

Mr. Heseltine

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The "polluter pays" principle is widely accepted in environmental policies, but my hon. Friend will be aware that, following the privatisation of the water industry, a £28 billion investment programme has been established which will transform the quality of water in this country.

Mr. Simon Hughes

Does the Secretary of State accept that his and the Government's credibility on environmental issues will he regarded as sound only when there is full integration between Government economic policy and Government environmental policy? The White Paper promised only that the Government would consider fuel taxation to encourage fuel economy and would consider environmental economic mechanisms to discourage pollution. Will the Tories join the Liberal Democrats in proposing a competitive tax on all forms of environmental pollution in this Budget, the next Budget, some time or never?

Mr. Heseltine

We are not too keen to join the Liberal Democrats, because we aim to stay in government. As the hon. Gentleman must be fully aware, the Government have already set up a standing environment Cabinet committee. We have nominated Ministers from each Government Department to take an interest in such matters. Although the specific questions posed by the hon. Gentleman are a matter for the Chancellor, no one could question the Government's environmental credentials, which are world pace-setting.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

Is the Secretary of State satisfied with the progress on the investment programme for the water industry which is specifically mentioned in the Government's White Paper? Is he satisfied with the progress of that investment programme, given that the industry acknowledges that there has been serious slippage in meeting those targets? Is not that slippage totally unacceptable when water bills have reached record levels and senior management in the water industry have just taken salary increases of up to 30 per cent?

Mr. Heseltine

I keep in close contact with Lord Crickhowell of the National Rivers Authority. We are broadly satisfied with the pace of progress. However, the scheme is a major enhancement in expenditure programmes which is, in significant part, necessary because of the dramatic cuts introduced by the Labour Government in the mid-1970s. It is unrealistic not to understand that to get such a level of expenditure under way takes a significant amount of time if the task of investment is to be done well. I shall be frank in response to the hon. Lady's question—yes, there is a price for high environmental standards. If the hon. Lady and the Labour party think that we can improve standards without spending and investing money, they deceive the country and themselves.