HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 c618W
36. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to review the staffing complement of the inspectorate in his Department dealing into air, water and waste.

89. Mr. Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the numbers of hazardous and waste inspectors.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

On 7 December my noble Friend the Minister for Housing Environment and Countryside announced that 13 additional posts will be created to strengthen the professional capacity of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in the spheres of air, water quality and waste. Among other things this will help with implementing the large combustion plant directive, administering the EC directive on the disposal of sewage sludge to land, and developing a programme of inspection of waste disposal authorities and major waste disposal sites. We shall continue to keep the manpower and resource needs of the inspectorate under review in the light of current circumstances and priorities.