§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made in the establishment of an Environment Agency since 15 July 1992; and how its proposed structure now differs from that set out in press release 499/92.
§ Mr. AtkinsI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth). The structure we propose for the Environment Agency for England and Wales is that set out in the press notice issued in July 1992: the agency will be responsible for the current functions of the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and the waste regulation authorities. It will bring these responsibilities together in a 455W single national body, providing the opportunity for more coherent and integrated environmental protection and for a more streamlined service to industry and the public.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings he has held since 15 July 1992 with(a) individual local authorities and (b) representative associations of local authorities to ensure that close liaison is achieved and maintained between his Department and local authorities over the planning arrangements for the Environment Agency.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy right hon. Friend has held no meetings with individual local authorities or with local authority associations exclusively on the subject of the Environment Agency. Officials in my Department have held regular meetings since October 1992 with representatives of the local authority associations to discuss the proposed arrangements for the agency.