§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has received any representations regarding (i) the adequacy of the proposed cost recovery provisions for authorisations for air pollution control and (ii) the adequacy of the preparations for implementation of part I of the Environmental Protection Act;
95W(2) what support and guidance will be given to local authorities and their officers for implementing the new controls over air pollution;
(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that local authority officers are fully conversant with the new system of air pollution controls prior to implementation;
(4) pursuant to his answer of 28 November 1990, Official Report, column 404, if it remains his target to issue the process specific guidance for block 1 of the local air processes under part I of the Environmental Protection Act in January 1991 and the general guidance in March 1991;
(5) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of progress on preparations for operating the new local authority controls for air pollution;
(6) on what basis the level of fees for authorisations for local authority air processes and waste oil processes were determined.
§ Mr. TrippierA liaison committee between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) and the local authority associations was established in November 1989 to facilitate the smooth implementation and running of the new air pollution control system. It continues to meet frequently and has overseen the production of guidance notes both on the new system generally and on the processes to come under local authority control.
All the block 1 notes are now with the printers and should be published by early February. The general guidance notes remain on target for publication in March 1991. Once copy of each of the notes will be sent free of charge to each local authority and port health authority. Copies will also be on sale from HMSO.
The Department of the Environment and the Institution of Environmental Health Officers (IEHO) have jointly held a number of training courses around the country for local authorities and next month will be holding a two-day accreditation course for future trainers. The local authority unit of HMIP in Birmingham is also available for ad hoc advice. I am satisfied with what I hear from the unit and the local authority association liaison committee that adequate provision has been made to enable local authorities to prepare for the new system.
The level of fees was proposed after discussion with the local authority associations and industry on the basis of an assessment of the workload that would be incurred by local authorities in determining and enforcing authorisations. We are still considering the representations received and will in any case review the levels at the end of the first year of operation. Comments on the charging proposals were evenly split, with some local authorities claiming them to be inadequate (particularly in relation to enforcement costs) and some industrialists arguing that they were too high (particularly for waste oil burners). However, the National Society for Clean Air, the IEHO and the Association of District Councils supported them.
Both industry and local authorities have commented on the preparations for implementation of the part I systems of air pollution and integrated pollution control; to ensure a timely and orderly implementation of the latter we proposed on 9 August 1990 a revised timetable in relation to existing processes.