§ 82. Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to ensure that new factories and workshops conform to European Community standards of environment pollution and noise pollution.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Government intend to strengthen the pollution control powers available to local authorities and introduce a system of integrated pollution control for major industrial processes which will be applied by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. Taken with the creation of the National Rivers Authority under the Water Act 1989, our proposals will create a powerful pollution control regime which will ensure compliance not only with European Community standards, but in many cases with more stringent standards. There are no European Community standards of environmental noise pollution for new factories and workshops. Controls are exercised through the planning system and the statutory nuisance provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.