§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many complaints the Environment Agency has received in the last year in total; how many it has received in relation to(a) human sewage in water courses, (b) animal or chemical fertiliser pollution in water courses, (c) industrial pollution, (d) landfill sites and (e) quarries; and, of the complaints about quarries, how many related to (i) noise, (ii) dust and (iii) leachates. [139918]
§ Mr. MullinIn the year to March 2000, the Environment Agency received 592 complaints. Figures for the most recent period available, April to October 2000, show it received 318 complaints.
The Agency's recording system does not break down complaints into categories requested and to do so would involve disproportionate cost.
Complaints relating to dust and noise are directed to the relevant local authority, as they are responsible for their regulation.
We will be discussing with the Agency ways in which it might alter its recording system so as to produce functional breakdowns of complaints in future.