§ Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to implement the main provisions of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIt remains the Government's intention to lay orders before the end of this calendar year to bring into effect the key offence provisions—section 31 and 32 of the Act. This is in line with the Government's commitment to achieve implementation of the main provisions of part II of the Act by 1986.
Accordingly, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, I propose to lay before the House after Easter the orders and regulations required to ensure that the necessary framework for transitional provisions new applications and public involvement is in place before the offence provisions become operative.