§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to put environmental impact assessment on a statutory basis.
§ Mr. YeoThe Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 (SI No. 1199) require environmental assessment for a wide range of projects where they are likely to have significant environmental effects. These regulations, and other statutory instruments made under the European Communities Act 1972, implement directive 85/337/EEC.
My noble Friend Lady Blatch has undertaken to consider the principle of an amendment to the Planning and Compensation Bill which would enable the Secretary of State to add to the categories of project which are subject to planning control and which require environmental assessment.