§ Lord Trefgarneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give details of the 1996-97 charging scheme for local authority air pollution control under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers):Charges to cover the costs of local enforcing authorities in regulating processes which are subject to Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 were introduced in April 1991.
With the approval of the Treasury, and following consultation with local authority associations and industry, my right honourable friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales have made a revised scheme specifying the scale of fees and charges to take effect from 1st April 1996. My right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, is revising the parallel scheme for Scotland on the same basis, and will be making a separate announcement.
The main changes are that the standard application fee is increased by £25 to £1,015, the application fee for a former Alkali Act works is increased by £15 to £610. the substantial change fee is increased by £15 to £650, and the annual subsistence charge is increased by £20 to £625.
The scheme will be laid before both Houses and a copy placed in the Libraries.