§ Lord Skelmersdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the Environment Agency Charging Schemes for 1997–98 for regulating industry under Integrated Pollution Control and under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)The Environment Act 1995 requires the Environment Agency to make charging schemes to recover the cost of carrying out its regulatory functions.
With the consent of the Treasury and, for the charging scheme for regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act, with the consent of my right honourable friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and, following consultation with those who are likely to be affected by the schemes, the Environment Agency has now made charging schemes for 1997–98 for regulating industry under Integrated Pollution Control and under the Radioactive Substances Act. The schemes will take effect from 1 April 1997. I have placed copies of them in the Library.
The subsistence charge for Integrated Pollution Control has been set at £1,755 in order to effect full cost recovery. This is a reduction of £50 on the charge in 1996–97. There are some minor changes to the charging schemes. Copies of the schemes will be sent to the relevant operators and to other interested bodies shortly.