§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to secure regular monitoring of dioxin levels from the incineration at Yelland in north Devon of sewage sludge and screenings; and if he will ensure that the results are made available to the local authorities concerned.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyDioxin emission monitoring is extremely complex and expensive and results cannot be available for some time after the sampling period. We therefore believe that the appropriate way to control dioxin formation is to ensure strict control of combustion conditions and good abatement of particulates. This is in line with the recently agreed EC directive on new municipal waste incineration plant. Local authorities are responsible for the environmental regulation of incinerators of less than one tonne per hour capacity, such as the one at Yelland.