HC Deb 26 November 1992 vol 214 cc830-1W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce new legal standards on phosphates in water.

Mr. Maclean

The Government have no immediate plans to introduce new legal standards on phosphates in water.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the planned lead times between the laying of the regulations under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 concerning water licensing and the implementation of the licensing system(a) when the Act received Royal Assent, (b) when the consultation papers were issued in August and (c) what is the proposed lead time now;

(2) when he will bring before Parliament regulations under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 introducing a new waste management licensing system.

Mr. Maclean

The waste management licensing system will be implemented by means of secondary legislation and guidance issued by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. It was not therefore necessary to establish an implementation timetable at the time the Act received Royal Assent. The Government published a legislation timetable on 25 June 1991 which envisaged laying regulations on waste management licensing in December 1992 to come into effect in April 1993. Consultation is proceeding on the complex and detailed measures needed to implement the new system and the resulting regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible; it is still my intention to bring the licensing system into force on 1 April 1993.