Air Pollution (Hansard, 17 March 1994)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the Government Chief Medical Officer's report on asthma and air pollution; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Atkins
No.
The Department of Health's independent Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution has not yet reported on the effects of air pollutants on asthma. Their report is expected to be published this year.

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he has made in charges payable by operators of industrial processes licensed by air pollution control authorities under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

§ Mr. Atkins
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 9 March 1994,Official Report, column 300.
789W

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received since May 1992 from his advisory committee on releases to the environment; and what actions he has taken in response to the reports.

§ Mr. Atkins
Since 1 May 1992 the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has given advice to the Secretary of State on 20 applications to release genetically modified organisms to the environment, made under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992.
For each application made under the regulations, all ACRE's advice has been considered by the Secretary of State in deciding whether to issue a consent to release a genetically modified organism.
Details of each application and ACRE's advice relating to them are kept on a public register.