Contaminated Land Register

HC Deb 25 February 1998 vol 307 c223W

Mr. Baldry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many acres of land are covered by the Contaminated Land Register; [30946]

(2) if he will make a statement on the future of the Contaminated Land Register. [30948]

Mr. Meacher

There is at present no contaminated land register. Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995) will place a duty on enforcing authorities to maintain registers containing prescribed particulars of enforcement action taken with respect to contamination and of remediation works carried out on that land. I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) of 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 439.