§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the safeguards to prevent the importation of(a) PCB contaminated and (b) other chemically-toxic waste from outside Scotland for landfill disposal in Scotland; and if he will make a statement; [36522]
(2) if he will ban the (a) importation and (b) landfill disposal of (i) PCB contaminated and (ii) other similar chemically-toxic waste in Scotland. [36524]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe movement of waste within the UK is not prohibited. In 1994, 45,000 tonnes of special waste was moved from Scotland to other parts of the UK for disposal or treatment, and 6,000 tonnes entered Scotland from other parts of the UK. As regards movements of waste to and from the UK, the United Kingdom Management Plan for the Exports and Imports of Waste bans all imports of waste for disposal except where the exporting country does not have and cannot be expected to provide suitable facilities, and where such facilities are not available closer to that country. The Plan allows most imports of waste for recovery.
Properly managed, landfill is a suitable disposal route for a wide range of waste. I am satisfied that the existing waste management licensing system provides adequate controls over such disposals.
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§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the licences of operators who have, without authorisation, dumped(a) PCB contaminated and (b) other chemically-toxic waste in landfill sites in Scotland. [36523]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as regulator, has the power to review and modify waste management licences. The disposal of waste without authorisation is a criminal offence. A licence-holder convicted of such an offence would be liable to have its licence withdrawn.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers are available to SEPA to prevent landfill disposal of PCB-contaminated and other similar chemically-toxic waste in Scotland. [36525]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe keeping, treating and disposal of waste requires a waste management licence (unless it is an exempt activity) granted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, as amended. In the case of wastes containing PCBs, guidance on their disposal is available in Waste Management Paper No. 6 and in circular SOAEFD 13/96, which accompanied the Special Waste Regulations 1996. The disposal of waste without authorisation is a criminal offence.
Number of new attendances at accident and emergency departments in Scotland Hospitals 3rd Quarter 1995–96 4th Quarter 1995–96 3rd Quarter 1996–97 4th Quarter 1996–97 3rd Quarter 1997–98 Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 12,978 12,390 12,877 12,660 12,711 Aberfeldy Cottage Hospital 164 147 166 165 166 Aboyne Hospital 185 177 183 183 200 Adamson Hospital 826 782 820 789 747 Arbroath Infirmary 2,114 1,961 1,970 1,907 2,055 Arduthie Hospital 227 206 - - - Arran War Memorial Hospital 210 183 219 245 228 Aviemore Health Centre 226 648 421 547 399 Balfour Hospital 453 438 489 436 546 Belford Hospital 1,274 1,362 1,407 1,384 1,528 Belhaven Hospital - - 109 126 129 Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital 444 448 423 442 484 Borders General Hospital 2,766 2,559 2,819 2,738 3,078 Brechin Infirmary 319 284 350 353 333 Caithness General Hospital 812 802 870 836 922 Campbeltown Health Centre 440 353 324 331 295 Campbeltown Hospital 610 550 350 607 544 Castle Douglas Hospital 120 203 240 207 - Chalmers Hospital 1,348 1,204 1,232 1,254 1,186 Coldstream Cottage Hospital 140 160 164 123 22 Cresswell Maternity Hospital - - 108 - - Crieff Community Hospital - - 794 746 674 Crieff Cottage Hospital 702 606 - - - Crosshouse Hospital 11,775 11,719 11,749 11,959 12,485 Daliburgh Hospital 78 64 113 75 92 Davidson Cottage Hospital 701 821 792 1,004 924 Dr. Gray's Hospital 2,718 2,751 3,073 3,115 2,853 Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 5,680 7,017 5,505 5,656 5,792 Dunbar Hospital 465 391 454 500 590 Dundee Royal Infirmary 10,960 10,209 10,451 10,199 10,297 Dunoon & District General Hospital 1,133 784 1,084 1,227 1,116 Eastern General Hospital 8 12 10 16 - Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 22,416 21,395 22,331 22,147 22,930 Edington Cottage Hospital - - 382 340 323