§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the case of the application by Mr. John Large for documentation held by Her Majesty's pollution inspectorate on past nuclear waste policy and practice with particular reference to the basis for calculation of the cost quoted for the information to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness to date of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe response to Mr. Large quoted a rate of charging for the inspector's time of £993 per man-day. This is the standard rate of charging levied on applicants for authorisation, and includes an allowance for overheads. However, there is a different rate of charging for the provision of information to members of the public, based on the direct costs of inspectorate staff time. The rate varies with the location and grade of staff involved. For staff based in London, the rate is, for example, £33 per hour for a pollution inspector and £19 per hour for an executive officer. The higher rate of charging was inadvertently quoted to Mr. Large. HMIP will be writing again to Mr. Large to apologise and to provide him with the correct charging information.
Regarding the effectiveness to date of the Environmental Information Regulations, I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 26 January 1994, Official Report, column 240.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which agency would carry any extra976W costs associated with the burying of low-level nuclear waste on landfill tips;
(2) what are the estimated costs of burying low-level nuclear waste on landfill tips.
§ Mr. AtkinsCharges for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste at landfill sites are a commercial matter for the operators of the sites and those disposing of the waste. It is for the site operators to set an appropriate rate, and for the disposers to bear the costs.