§ Mr. RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will make a statement about the 1994–95 charging scheme for local authority air pollution control under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
§ Mr. AtkinsCharges to cover the costs of local enforcing authorities in regulating processes which are subject to part I of the Environmental Protection act 1990 were introduced in April 1991. With the approval of the Treasury, and following consultation with local authority associations and industry, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of state for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales have made a revised scheme specifying the scale of fees and charges to take effect from 1 April 1994. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is revising the identical, parallel scheme for Scotland on the same basis.
The application fee is increased by £30 to £965, the substantial change fee is increased by £20 to £620, and the 300W annual subsistence charge is increased by £15 to £585. No change has been made to the remaining fees and charges. The scheme will be laid before both Houses and a copy placed in the Library.
As part of our deregulation review, we commissioned consultants to investigate the potential for bringing in a system of banded charges. I am placing a copy of their report in the Library. In the light of the report and in consultation with interested bodies, consideration will be given to introducing banded charges for the local authority air pollution control regime in 1995–96.