Environmental Issues (Hansard, 21 March 1991)

§ Mr. McGrady
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider to seek to establish a Northern Ireland environmental protection agency; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to establish an independent environmental protection agency for Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Needham
The hon. Gentlemen will be aware that the Environment Committee of this House, in its recent report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland, recommended the establishment of such a body. I am at present examining the recommendations in this report. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.

§ Mr. McGrady
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to recommendation 21 in the first report of the Environment Committee of Session 1990–91 entitled "Environmental Issues in Northern Ireland"; and when the Department of the Environment will carry out a review of the effects of current policies on residential development in the countryside and institute a policy which will enable rural planning policy to be relaxed, and crossroads development to take place.

§ Mr. Needham
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Environment Committee of this House, in its recent report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland, recommended a review of planning policies on residential development in the countryside. I am at present examining the recommendations in this report. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to ensure that long-term environmental considerations are fully taken into account when financial inducements are given to incoming investors to Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Needham
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Environment Committee of this House, in its recent report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland, recommended that the Government take steps to prevent the contamination of land by industry. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce a system of grant-aid for the clean-up of contaminated sites.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will establish a register of contaminated land in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Needham
The hon. Gentlemen will be aware that the Environment Committee of this House, in its recent206W report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland, expressed concern about contaminated land. I am at present examining the recommendations in this report. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.

§ Mr. McGrady
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to recommendation No. 15 in the first report of the Environment Committee of Session 1990–91 entitled "Environmental Issues in Northern Ireland"; and what action the Government will adopt to reduce the incidents of eutrophication of inland waters.

§ Mr. Needham
The Government are at present examining this recommendation, as part of their consideration of the Environment Committee's report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.

§ Mr. McGrady
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the conclusion No. 25 in the first report of the Environment Committee of Session 1990–91 entitled "Environmental Issues in Northern Ireland"; and whether the Government will adopt measures such as national parks and management plans for areas such as the Mournes in the constituency of South Down.

§ Mr. Needham
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Environment Committee of this House, in its recent report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland, recommended measures such as national parks and management plans. I am at present examining the recommendations in this report. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.