§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the proposed inspection charges under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999 are higher in England and Wales than in Scotland. [73810]
§ Mr. MealeThe proposed charges of the Environment Agency, which is to carry out environmental inspection under the proposed Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) in England and Wales are higher than those of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which carries out the same functions in Scotland. This is because the relevant input costs, such are accommodation, differ. The charges have been calculated in accordance with HM Treasury's Fees and Charges Guide.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received alleging inadequacies in consultations with small businesses in the fuel supply and distribution industry over the possible impact of the proposed charging regimes for the Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999; and if he will make a statement; [73819]
(2) what representations he has received alleging inadequacies in (a) identifying and (b) estimating compliance costs for the fuel supply and distribution industry in the preparation of the proposed charging regime for the Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999. [73818]
§ Mr. MealeOne letter has been received making such representations. Copies of this same letter have also been forwarded by six Members of Parliament. The Health and Safety Commission initiated an eight-week consultation on 24 November 1998 on proposals to charge for activities conducted under the proposed Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH). The consultation document included details of the charging proposals, chargeable activities, the methodology used for calculating charges, the likely impact of charging on industry and illustrative examples of charges for a range of COMAH establishments.
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§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what analysis of compliance costs was undertaken in respect of(a) the fuel supply and distribution industry and (b) the liquified petroleum gas industry in the preparation of the proposed charging regime for the Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999; [73817]
(2) what (a) representations he has received on and (b) assessment he has made of competitive disadvantages for sections of the fuel supply and distribution industry arising from the proposed charging provisions under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999; and if he will make a statement. [73809]
§ Mr. MealeTwo letters have been received making such representations. Copies of one of these have also been forwarded by six Members of Parliament. The current projection is that the overall charges to industry, for the performance of the functions placed on the Competent Authority under the proposed Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH), will amount to approximately £6 million in 1999–2000, and £6.6 million in 2000–01 and 2001–02. It is not possible at this stage to separate out the costs of charging likely to be borne by the fuel supply and distribution and liquefied petroleum gas industries from those of other industries. The COMAH charging consultative document provided illustrative examples of the likely charges for different, typical types of establishment to enable operators to estimate their costs.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received criticising(a) the suitability of the proposed flat rate inspection charge and (b) the adequacy of efforts to ensure that these charges relate directly to actual work undertaken under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1999. [73811]
§ Mr. MealeFour letters have been received making such representations, of which two raised only first issue. Copies of one of these letters, which raised both issues, have also been forwarded by six Members of Parliament.