§ 31. Mr. McAvoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for making safe sites contaminated by industrial waste; and what will be the cost to the Exchequer.
§ Sir Hector MonroResponsibility for dealing with contaminated sites rests with the site owners. Any Government contribution towards the cost of decontamination is likely to come mainly through the Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise networks, which have between them £95 million to devote to environmental activity, including decontamination work. The level of priority and resources to be allocated to such work is a matter for the local enterprise companies to decide.
As far as local authorities are concerned, the capital allocation to their general services budget is not targeted and it is for each council to determine its own priorities for expenditure on any such work.