HC Deb 22 February 2000 vol 344 cc921-2W
Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of installations to be affected by the introduction of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, specifying(a) pig installations and (b) poultry installations. [110738]

Mr. Meacher

Only farms with more than 2,000 places for pigs over 30 kilos or 750 places for sows, or 40,000 places for poultry, will be regulated under IPPC. The Environment Agency estimates that in England and Wales this will encompass up to 435 pig installations and about 1,200 broiler installations, and 200 laying hen installations; for poultry, the great majority of installations will not come into IPPC until 2003, and for pigs until 2004.

Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the charges to be levied by other EU countries and by Scotland consequent upon the introduction of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive; and if he will make a statement. [110737]

Mr. Meacher

The Environment Agency is gathering information on charging practices associated with IPPC in other EU countries. This will inform the development of a long-term charging scheme. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency proposes to apply its existing charging schemes relating to discharges to air, land and water to IPPC as an interim measure, with an increase in tariff of 10 per cent. to reflect the extra regulatory activities associated with IPPC.