§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards implementing the requirements of the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (97/11/EC). [22217]
§ Mr. CabornThe Government's broad proposals for implementing the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive were set out in an initial consultation paper issued on 30 July. In the light of the responses to that paper, I am pleased to announce today the start of a second, more detailed consultation exercise on the thresholds to be used by planning authorities and others as filters in assessing whether a particular project is likely to have significant effects on the environment and so warrant environmental assessment.
The proposed thresholds would apply to a range of projects covered by the Town and Country Planning and other consent systems in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
356WCopies of the consultation paper have been sent to other Government Departments and to a wide range of business, government and environmental organisations. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Comments on the Government's proposals should be made to my Department, the Scottish Office or Northern Ireland Office as appropriate by 27 February 1998.