§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what monitoring is undertaken by her Department to review the operation of legislation concerning statutory nuisance as it relates to national heritage issues. [36245]
§ Mr. SproatI should first point out that the policy responsibility for statutory nuisance rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Although this Department is responsible for listing buildings of special architectural or historic interest for their protection we do not monitor or review whether they are causing a statutory nuisance. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on local authorities to 250W investigate a complaint made by anyone living within its area about a possible statutory nuisance. It is for the local authority to decide whether a statutory nuisance exists and what action to take in the light of all the relevant circumstances. A complainant can also seek an abatement notice from a magistrates court under the 1990 Act.