HC Deb 20 July 1988 vol 137 cc687-8W
79. Mr. Flannery

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering any amendment to the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to prevent industries which pollute rivers from remaining anonymous; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

There is no anonymity for an industry, or for anyone else, found guilty of polluting rivers. However, if a firm considers that disclosure of the terms of a consent would, by revealing trade secrets, unreasonably prejudice its commercial interests, it may apply to the Secretary of State for this information to be excluded from the public register. If the case is accepted, the Secretary of State would then issue a certificate which is noted in the public register. No such certificate has ever been issued We have no proposals to change these arrangements.