HC Deb 09 May 1989 vol 152 cc393-4W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the municipal incinerators in Scotland and indicate which ones are licensed to burn(a) radioactive waste, (b) special waste and (c) clinical waste.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Incinerators operated by local authorities in Scotland are listed in the table. Such incinerators operate under the conditions specified in a resolution passed by the disposal authority. These resolutions, which are required to be made available for public inspection, include such limitations on the incineration of controlled wastes as the authority considers to be necessary; controlled wastes include special and clinical wastes.

Under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 responsibility for the control of radioactive wastes rests with the Secretary of State for Scotland. The municipal incinerators authorised by him to burn radioactive waste are shown in the list below.

Incinerator and authority

  • Aberdeen (East Tullos)1—City of Aberdeen District Council
  • Alloa—Clackmannan District Council
  • Dundee (Baldovie)1—City of Dundee District Council
  • Govan—City of Glasgow District Council
  • Polmadie1—City of Glasgow District Council
  • Linwood—Renfrew District Council
  • Chinglebraes—Orkney Islands Council
  • Rova Head—Shetland Islands Council

1 Authorised to burn low level radioactive wastes.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what regulations govern emissions from hospital incinerators; and if he has any plans to improve the operating standards of hospital incinerators;

(2) if he has any proposals to remove Crown immunity from hospital incinerators.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The Health and Safety (Emissions to Atmosphere) (Amendment) Regulations 1989 set emission standards for incinerators with a capacity of over 1 tonne per hour. These regulations apply to hospital incinerators but there is at present no Scottish hospital incinerator of the relevant size.

New controls on smaller incinerators will be introduced as soon as possible. It is intended that these controls will also apply to hospital incinerators.