§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to issue advice to local authorities on the exercise of their new air pollution control functions under Part I of the Environmental Protection Bill.
§ Lord StrathclydeThe new system of air pollution control being established under Part I of the Bill represents a major strengthening of local authorities' powers Over polluting industry.
It is important that local authorities work to a common set of standards and we intend that no process should be scheduled for local authority control until relevant guidance has been published. More than 70 guidance notes will be needed, and we are well on target to produce them. The final drafts of the first seven notes, produced with the assistance of local authorities and industry, have today been circulated to interested parties for comment, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Through the guidance notes, not only local authorities, but also industry and the public will be aware of the standards of air pollution control we expect to be achieved.