§ The Earl of Swintonasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the first report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution will be published.
§ Lord HeskethThe first report of HMIP was published today.
The report gives a full account of the inspectorate's activities and achievements in its first year of existence, from April 1987 to March 1988, and touches on some of the major developments in 1988–89. HMIP's first annual report comes at a time of increased awareness of environmental and pollution issues. It should be of interest to everyone with a direct concern in pollution control, including central and local government, industry, pollution specialists, pressure groups and researchers.
We set up HMIP in 1987 to provide a more effective and efficient basis for carrying out pollution control. Its formation laid the foundation for an integrated approach to pollution control. We accept that improving environmental standards demands high levels of monitoring and enforcement and adequate resources. The inspectorate's first report demonstrates the vitally important contribution that its activities are making to the protection and enhancement of the environment.
We have already taken the lead in Europe in preparing an integrated pollution control system. Integrated pollution control is the way legislation on environmental protection will develop across Europe in the 1990s.
The system will enable us to achieve a real and lasting overall reduction in pollution. We have recently strengthened the inspectorate's professional capability by the addition of 13 posts. This will ensure that they will remain in the vanguard of the Government's initiatives on environmental policy.
Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.