§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much of the hazardous and noxious waste imported into the United Kingdom is destroyed on land, dumped on land, destroyed at sea and dumped at sea, in each case what rules govern compensation in the event of damage arising and in particular what in each case is the maximum compensation payable by whom and to whom.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleTo the best of the Government's knowledge, over 90 per cent. of the hazardous and noxious waste imported into the United Kingdom in 1983 was incinerated or treated chemically at plants on land, and the remainder was landfilled. From 1st October 1985, the recent EC Directive on the Supervision and Control of Transfrontier Shipments of Hazardous Waste will provide more detailed information on all imports of hazardous and noxious wastes. There is no statutory requirement in the United Kingdom for the payment of compensation in the event of damage arising from the disposal of waste other than that provided for under Section 88 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 which relates to disposals of waste on land contravening Section 3(3) or Section 18(2) of the 1974, Act. It is open to any persons who consider that they have suffered injury to themselves or damage to their property to institute civil proceedings against an alleged polluter on the grounds of his negligence. There is no limit to the damages a court could award in such a case.