§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the number of process applications received by local authorities under(a) block one processes, (b) block two processes and (c) block three processes to date, pursuant to the requirements of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and what evaluation he has made of the adequacy of resources available to local authorities to carry out their new pollution control responsibilities under the Act.
§ Mr. MacleanThe provisional total number of block one applications made to local authorities under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 up to 31 March this year is 3,049, according to the statistical returns sent to my Department by local authorities. The total of block two applications received by local authorities up to that date will be available soon and I will write to the hon. Member with that figure as soon as I can.
The period for applications for block three processes began on 1 April this year; no statistics are yet available for these. The cost recovery charging scheme set up under section 8(2) of the Act is intended to recover the local authorities' relevant expenditure attributable to authorisations.
In reviewing the level of fees and charges for 1992–93, my Department took into account the written submissions of the local authority associations on the charging scheme, as well as the views of industry. The Department has asked the local authority associations to submit evidence on the charging scheme again for this year's annual review of the scheme.