§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) persons and (b) organisations have been convicted under sections 31 and 32 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in each of the past 10 years; what was the range of fines imposed and the average financial penalty; and if he will make a statement. [4058]
§ Mr. ChisholmThe information requested is not held centrally and the data could be collated only at a disproportionate cost.
Up to 1995–96 the information requested is within the annual reports of individual river purification boards, which are available in the House Library. However, information on convictions in the former island council areas is not held centrally. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is presently considering the information which should be contained within its 1996–97 annual report and we will bring this issue to its attention.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to modify the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and if he will make a statement. [4057]
§ Mr. ChisholmThere are no present plans to modify the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The Act may however need to be amended in the light of developments in relation to the EC water framework directive currently under negotiation.