§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the implementation of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations. [148867]
§ Mr. MorleyMAFF has received representations from the NFU and other trade organisations, as well as ministerial correspondence, on the implementation of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations in the pig and poultry sectors. These have covered a range of issues specific to the pig and poultry sectors and also the Environment Agency's interim charging scheme. As part of the Action Plan for Farming, the Government dealt with two issues of particular importance to the industry: we deferred implementation of IPPC for existing pig and poultry installations until 2007 and have agreed an Environment Agency charge for permits based on General Binding Rules of £2,950, rather than the £12,000£18,000 it originally proposed. The Environment Agency, along with officials from MAFF, is continuing to work with the industry to ensure the rules implementing the IPPC626W Regulations are as unbureaucratic and non-burdensome as possible while meeting the environmental requirements of the Regulations.