§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent meetings have been held between Ministers or officials of his Department and representatives of the Engineering Employers Federation concerning cost recovery charges being introduced under the Environmental Protection Act.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 7 December 1990]: Representatives of the Engineering Employers Federation have recently had meetings with both the Minister of State and with officials of the Department to discuss implementation of integrated pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including cost recovery charges.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the oversight that will be conducted by his Department over income earned by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and local authorities from granting of industrial operating licences for cost recovery under the Environmental Protection Act.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 7 December 1990]: The cost recovery charges to be made under the Environmental Protection Act by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) and by local authorities for air pollution control are set by the Secretary of State for the Environment with the approval of the Treasury. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's finances are scrutinised through the annual MINIS review of the Department's operation; and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will publish a report on income from charges at the end of each financial year. Local authorities will be required to make annual returns on income from pollution control charges, and the Department will publish a digest of this information.