§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they believe that the view of the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Trade and Industry (Lord Strathclyde) expressed in a letter of 3rd May 1993 to the European Communities Committee that the effects of a volatile organic compound directive "will give the United Kingdom the maximum flexibility in implementation, and allow the Government to ensure that small rural petrol stations will not have to bear unreasonable cost" has been justified, and, if so, why.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)The EC "Stage 1" Directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions during the storage and distribution of petrol, referred to in the question, was transposed into British legislation by statutory instrument last month. I fully share the view, which was expressed by my noble friend Lord Strathclyde in 1993, that the derogations which the United Kingdom successfully sought to be included in the directive have given us flexibility in its implementation and will ensure that small rural petrol stations will not have to bear unreasonable costs.
125WAService stations with an annual throughput smaller than 100 cubic metres are exempt altogether. Those with an annual throughput between 100–500 cubic metres, and which are located in a geographical area or on a site where vapour emissions are unlikely to contribute significantly to environmental or health problems, may also be exempted.
We intend to make full use of this derogation for existing service stations, although at the request of the petroleum industry we have delayed defining the exempt areas until nearer 2004 when the regulations will come into force for stations of that size. This is to ensure that they are identified on the basis of the best scientific information which is then available. The regulations already specify exempt areas for new stations of that size. These are located in rural parts of northern Scotland.