Magheramorne Landfill Project (Hansard, 27 January 1997)

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the potential for conflict of interest arising from the appointment on short-term contract to the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, of the representative of the applicant at the public inquiry into the Magheramorne landfill project. [12953]

§ Mr. Moss
The person concerned was appointed by the Environment and Heritage Service through the Government Purchasing Agency to prepare the specification for a waste strategy for Northern Ireland and was deemed to be the best person for the job. However, because the Department recognised a potential conflict of interest, steps have been taken to ensure that the consultant will not be involved in any way with the Department's consideration of the report of the planning appeals commission into the Magheramorne landfill project, nor will he have access to any papers relating to the project.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the officer on short-term contract to the Department of the Environment. Northern Ireland, will provide advice through permanent officials to the Environment Minister when he considers the outcome of the public inquiry into the Magheramorne landfill project. [12955]

§ Mr. Moss
The consultant will not be providing advice through permanent officials to the Environment Minister when he considers the outcome of the public inquiry into the Magheramorne landfill project. He has not and will not be involved in any aspect of the Magheramorne landfill project while contracted with Environment and Heritage Service.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the role within the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, waste management and contaminated land section and the water quality unit, Northern Ireland, of the officer on short-term contract54W since August 1996 who acted on behalf of the applicant during the public inquiry in respect of the Magheramorne landfill project. [12952]

§ Mr. Moss
The consultant has been engaged on a short-term contract by the Environment and Heritage Service to advise the service's waste management and contaminated land unit. He is engaged on work involved in the preparation of a Northern Ireland waste strategy and the auditing of operational landfill sites in consultation with the district councils, and has no involvement with the service's water quality unit.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what access the officer appointed on short-term contract to the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, has to information related to consent to discharge from the Magheramorne landfill project. [12954]

§ Mr. Moss
The officer engaged by the Environment and Heritage Service is not involved in water quality issues and has had no involvement with the Water Act consent consideration.