Waste Disposal (Hansard, 26 January 1990)

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make provision for a waste disposal authority to refuse a site licence when a landfill is proposed on a site of special scientific interest.

§ Mr. Trippier
This is a matter for the planning authority to consider as part of the planning application process. The planning authority should have regard to circular 27/87 which contains guidance on the procedures to be followed in considering any development on land used for nature conservation.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide statutory powers for voluntary groupings of waste regulation authorities to pool their skills and powers.

§ Mr. Trippier
Waste disposal authorities are already able to exercise their statutory powers through arrangements with other authorities under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make it a condition for the issuing of a waste disposal site licence that the applicant has to demonstrate a certain defined minimum standard of waste management education, training and experience.

§ Mr. Trippier
The Environmental Protection Bill contains provisions for the waste regulation authority to refuse a licence to an applicant who is not a fit and proper person. Part of the test of being a fit and proper person is that the applicant would provide technically competent management for the proposed facility. The Secretary of State may prescribe, through regulations, the qualifications and experience required of a person for this purpose.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to make it a legal requirement for waste regulation authorities to conform to the frequency of site visits laid down in the waste management papers issued by his Department.

§ Mr. Trippier
The Environmental Protection Bill contains provisions for the waste regulation authorities to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State with respect to the discharge of their functions in relation to licences. Such guidance would include advice on the frequency of site visits. The authorities will also be required to publish annual reports on their performance in relation to this guidance.