§ 11.34 a.m.
§ Lord MELCHETT rose to move, That the draft Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, laid before the House on 16th May, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this order is concerned with the prevention and control of pollution of the environment. Northern Ireland, because of its rural nature and less developed heavy industrial sector, does not experience pollution problems to the same extent as other parts of the United Kingdom. But the public rightly expect stringent measures be taken to deal with such pollution as does exist.
§ This order broadly follows the lines of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. 1054 Part II of the order gives district councils important new functions relating to the preparation of waste disposal plans, the licensing of disposal sites and the collection and recycling or reclaiming of waste. Part III has the effect of making noise a statutory nuisance. It provides councils with powers to control noise from specific sources such as construction sites and also more generally to establish noise abatement zones. Finally, in Part IV, the legislation in Northern Ireland on atmospheric pollution is brought more closely into line with that in Great Britain. The timetable for implementing the order will, of course, be discussed with the Association of Local Authorities. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the draft Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, laid before the House on 16th May, be approved.—(Lord Melchett.)
Viscount LONGMy Lords, once again, I am most grateful for the way in which the noble Lord, Lord Melchett, has described this order. There is a great deal in it. I want to ask only one or two questions on Part IV concerning the regulations on engines. Would those engines be motor engines? Can the noble Lord describe what he means here and whether the law on pollution from engines refers to the smoke or the fuel involved in the running of engines, and whether it is concerned with cars? I cannot find anything in Scotland or Wales which deals with this. However, I may be absolutely wrong; I am not at all certain.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, the noble Viscount has said that a great deal is contained in this order. If he could point me to the article with which he is concerned, it would help me to give him the response he wants.
Viscount LONGMy Lords, I seem to have lost my place. However, the explanatory notes set out certain items and one of them is on engines. Perhaps I could leave this matter for the moment and discuss it with the noble Lord outside the Chamber. Having lost my place and having tried to sort myself out, I have nothing further to say on any of these orders, except to wish the noble Lord a very happy holiday. We have dealt with the order on licensing laws but that does not mean to say that we should take too 1055 much advantage of those licensing laws. I wish the noble Lord and all noble Lords in the Chamber a very happy holiday.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Long, very much indeed for those good wishes. Having thrown him into some confusion, I have had time to find the article which is No. 55. My information is that this extends to Northern Ireland existing powers in the legislation in Great Britain. I do not think that I can give the noble Viscount the exact reference to the Act in Great Britain, but if the noble Viscount would take it from me on trust that that is the case, I should be very grateful.
I should like to take this opportunity to thank him very much for giving these important Northern Ireland orders a speedy passage through your Lordships' House.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.