§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to require chipboard factories to be fitted with electrified filter bed equipment;
(2) what analysis has been made of the emissions from chipboard factories in England; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what controls exist on emissions to the air from chipboard factories; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 20 February 1990]: Emissions to the air from chipboard factories are subject to control by local authorities under the statutory nuisance provisions of part III of the Public Health Act 1936. I understand that analyses of emissions from three major chipboard factories have been undertaken by, or on behalf of, local authorities.
Under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill it is proposed to give local authorities powers of prior authorisation over air pollution from certain categories of timber processes including chipboard factories. These processes will not be scheduled under the Bill until national guidance on appropriate air pollution controls has been issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Different pollution abatement technologies including electrified filter bed equipment are currently being considered in drawing up this guidance.