§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to issue guidance to the waste regulation authorities about the classification of secondary liquid fuel as waste. [41987]
§ Mr. ClappisonWhether or not a substance is waste must be determined on the facts of the case and the interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts. The Department has provided guidance on the interpretation of the definition of waste in DoE circular 11/94.
The Department's views on the classification of secondary liquid fuel as waste were set out in our initial response of 13 June 1995 to the Environment Select Committee's report on the burning of this fuel in cement kilns. We have no plans to revise the guidance issued to waste regulation authorities in DoE circular 11/94.
§ Mrs. CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the Government will respond to the Environment Select Committee's second report on burning of secondary liquid fuels in cement kilns before Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution reaches a decision on the permanent authorisation for the burning of secondary liquid fuels in cement kilns. [41988]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Government have already given their initial response to the Environment Select Committee and stated that when Parliament enacted the Environmental Protection Act 1990, EPA90, the systems thus created were, and are, sufficiently robust to cope with the regulation of cement kilns and secondary liquid fuels. Her Majesty's inspectorate pollution has a statutory obligation to deliver the requirements of EPA90 for all plants under its control. Under the circumstances, I see no useful purpose in delaying HMIP decisions.