§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider the extension of the principle contained in the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and other measures in order to ensure that individuals who carelessly discard or mislay dangerous chemicals or poisonous substances become liable to be surcharged for the costs involved in their recovery.
§ Mr. MarksUnder existing legislation there are powers to recover, through the courts, the cost of remedying statutory nuisances, oil pollution of beaches and pollution of most inland waters. When Part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 is implemented, it will extend the powers available to deal with the removal of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter present in or likely to enter inland waters.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make additional funds available to those local authorities who are obliged to acquire sophisticated and expensive appliances to deal adequately with poisonous substances which may be inadvertently lost through flood or theft.
§ Mr. MarksNo. Local authority expenditure on treatment and disposal of toxic substances is already taken into account in calculating rate support grant.