Pollution Control

HC Deb 21 February 1991 vol 186 cc198-9W

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he expects all requisite guidance to be in place before the implementation of integrated pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

General guidance on the operation of integrated pollution control will be issued before 1 April. More detailed guidance on particular categories of process will be made available in accordance with the timetable for bringing processes in these categories under integrated control.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the speciality chemicals industry about integrated pollution control requirements under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Mr. Baldry

The Department has received representations from the speciality chemicals industry about particular characteristics of the processes they operate. In addition, we have consulted the industry's main representatives, the Chemical Industries Association, in drawing up guidance and preparing regulations on integrated pollution control.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will further consult the speciality chemicals industry before the detailed implementation of integrated pollution control.

Mr. Baldry

The Department has already drawn on the expertise of the speciality chemicals industry in preparing regulations and drawing up general guidance for the implementation of integrated pollution control. Final versions will be published shortly. Further consultation will be undertaken on detailed issues as appropriate.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to adopt the principle of a presumption in favour of unrestricted access for the public to information held by pollution control authorities.

Mr. Baldry

Yes. The Water Act 1989 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provide for public access to information in respect of water pollution, integrated pollution control and local authority air pollution control.