§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Paymaster General how many staff at the Health and Safety Executive are engaged soley on the enforcement of industrial air pollution regulations; what is the average length of time between notification of nuisance and action by the firm responsible to remedy it; and what actions are taken by the Health and Safety Executive to abate such nuisance.
§ Mr. TrippierThere are 33 industrial air pollution inspectors in the field and seven at the inspectorate's London headquarters.
Inspectors enforce the air pollution control provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and associated legislation at "prescribed" premises. Such premises are required to satisfy the "best practicable means" requirements of the industrial air pollution inspectorate to the control of atmosphere emissions. Where the "best practicable means" requirements arc not complied with, the inspectorate takes appropriate enforcement action.
The time allowed to firms to rectify failures in emission control will depend on the nature of the substances emitted and the degree of remedial work necessary to achieve effective control.