§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact upon crofters and other small producers of the costs of disposing of spent sheep dip as proposed under the Groundwater Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [61849]
§ Mr. MacdonaldA copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment in respect of the Groundwater Regulations 1998 was placed in the Library of the Houses of Parliament on 11 November. The Assessment notes that, in England and Wales, compliance costs for a typical farmer are likely to be £100 recurring costs per annum with non-recurring costs of £85. Broadly similar costs are expected for Scotland.
On 26 November, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued for public consultation their proposals for charges under the Regulations. Under the terms of section 42 of the Environment Act 1995, the approval of the Secretary of State must be obtained before a charging scheme is made. In determining whether or not to approve the scheme the Secretary of State must consider any representations or objections duly made to him and not withdrawn. He must also have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the amounts recovered by the Agency by way of the prescribed charges are the amounts which taking one year with another, need to be recovered by the Agency to meet such of the costs and expenses which it incurs in carrying out its functions as he may consider appropriate.