HC Deb 26 June 1990 vol 175 cc158-9W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment(a) if he will list the membership of the working party concerned with the particle and fibre board industry, indicating which members are (i) representatives of HMIP, (ii) representatives of local authorities, (iii) representatives of environmental or community groups and (iv) employed with the particle and fibre board industry; and (b) what criteria he used to determine the membership of the working party.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

(a) The membership of the working party is as follows:

  • Dr. M. G. Bigg, HMIP
  • Mr. A. S. Fidling, Glyndwr District Council

Representatives of the particle board and fibre board industry

  • Mr. T. Allison
  • Mr. K. H. Bryant
  • Mr. D. G. Duke-Evans
  • Mr. N. F. Hodnett
  • Mr. C. P. Towl
  • Mr. R. Kenworth
  • Mr. A. F. Kerr
  • Mr. R. N. Stewart
  • Mr. A. Twitchett

In addition to the working party meetings discussions have taken place between Dr. M. G. Bigg and the following representatives of local authorities whose residents are affected by particle board and fibre board processes:

  • Mr. A. Millie, North Devon District Council
  • Mr. A. Fuller, Alyn and Deeside District Council
  • Mr. S. Fraser, Cullinghame District Council
  • Mr. D. Hubbick, Tynedale District Council
  • Mr. N. Findlay, Coleraine District Council
  • Mr. T. Rose, Sterling District Council
  • Mr. A. Fidling, Glyndwr District Council

In addition a meeting has been held with representatives of the following community groups:

  • Central Scotland Environmental Action Group (CSEAG)
  • The National Association for the Control of Chipboard Industry Pollution
  • Chirk Residents Environmental Group (CREG)
  • Mr. A. Fidling, Glyndwr District Council was also present at this meeting.

(b) HMIP invited the local authority associations, local government professional institutions, and the industry to nominate members to serve on the working party. All the members nominated were appointed.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference of the working party concerned with the particle and fibre board industry.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

A group is preparing the first draft of the guidance for local authority air pollution control of the manufacture of particle board and fibre board. The terms of reference of this group are to determine the appropriate techniques to meet the objectives set down in section 7(2)(a) of the Environmental Protection Bill.

The objectives are: ensuring that in carrying on a prescribed process, the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost will be used:

  1. (i) for preventing the release of substances prescribed for air into air or, where that is not practicable by such means, for reducing the release of such substances to a minimum and for rendering harmless any such substances which are so released; and
  2. (ii) for rendering harmless any other substances which might cause harm if released into any environmental medium.