The Earl of Dundonaldasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Scottish Office environment department has not reviewed charging schemes for shellfish depuration plants since 1991; and
Why Shellfish Depuration Plant operators have not had the opportunity to make representations to the Secretary of State for Scotland since the charging scheme came into effect.
§ The Minister of State Scottish Office (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie):Following public consultation, the river purification authorities introduced charging schemes for discharges to the water environment during 1992. These 78WA have since attracted few representations. Once the proposed Scottish environment protection agency is established, it will be responsible for reviewing all of the charging schemes which it will inherit from its constituent bodies, including those currently operated by the river purification authorities. In the meantime, the Secretary of State would, of course, be pleased to receive any views which Scottish shellfish depuration plant operators may wish to submit.
The Earl of Dundonaldasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why shellfish depuration operators are being charged £ 50 in The Highland River Purification area, and £ 350 in the Clyde area for discharging water which has a negligible polluting impact on the environment, and is less polluting than the existing list of discharges which attract the reduced charge of £ 50 for applications for consent; and whether this constitutes a "level playing-field"; and
Given that shellfish depuration plant discharges cost no more for river purification boards to deal with than those currently listed under the schemes for reduced charges of £ 50 such as sewerage effluents from single house septic tanks, whether the scheme as it stands properly takes into consideration the primary purpose of Section 53 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
§ Lord Fraser of Carmyllie:The river purification authorities' charging schemes for discharges to the water environment are cost-recovery schemes introduced in accordance with the provisions of Section 53 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. They were subject to Treasury consent and the approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Their interpretation and administration is, however, a matter for individual authorities themselves, who are subject to audit by the Accounts Commission for Scotland. In the future, the proposed Scottish environment protection agency would be responsible for administering the schemes throughout Scotland.