§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to ensure that the chimney stack of the former Re-Chem International incinerator plant at Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire is dismantled by the public 174W authorities and subjected to exhaustive non-destructive testing to ascertain the nature and quantities of toxic materials deposited within the chimney; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramDisposal of solid waste is regulated by the Control of Pollution Act 1974 part I, administered in Scotland by district and islands councils. The disposal of waste from the premises of Re-Chem International Ltd. is thus a matter for that company and Falkirk district council.
I understand that samples have been taken from the stack by officials of Falkirk district council and of my Department and are being analysed.
The Hazardous Waste Inspectorate, Scotland, is available to advise the Council on appropriate means of disposal.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the chimney stack at the former Re-Chem International incineration plant at Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, was of suitable design for the functions it was required to perform; and whether he will publish the detailed reports made on this chimney by his officials at various times between 1974 and 1984 inclusive.
§ Mr. Michael AncramThe Chief Industrial Pollution Inspector was required in 1974, before first registration of the Bonnybridge plant as a chemical incineration works under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906, to satisfy himself that the stack height was sufficient to secure adequate dispersion of stack gases and particulate. Dispersion proved not wholly adequate and in 1976, in the light of advice from the Imperial College of Science and Technology and the Department of Aeronautics of the University of Bristol, ReChem International Ltd. increased the stack height from 120 to 200ft which the inspectorate considered adequate. The reports to ReChem International Ltd. by Imperial College and the University of Bristol are the property of that company. It is not the practice to make public the detailed reports prepared by inspectors in the course of their regular inspections of registered premises.