§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to amend the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 to prevent warehouses storing non-hazardous materials being converted without planning consent to store dangerous materials; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramOn 31 July last year we issued a consultation paper stating our intention to introduce legislation to provide that no building or other land shall be used, without the written consent of the planning authority, for any purpose which involves the manufacture, processing, keeping or use of a hazardous substance in such circumstances as will result in there being at any one time a specified quantity of such a substance in, on, over or under the land. It is our intention that legislation to this effect should be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.