§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give details of the 1998–99 charging scheme for local air pollution control under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.[31460]
§ Angela EagleCharges to cover the costs of local enforcing authorities in regulating processes which are subject to Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 were introduced in April 1991.
With the approval of the Treasury, and following consultation with local authority associations and industry, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and for Wales have made a revised scheme specifying the scale of fees and charges to take effect from 1 April 1998.
The main changes are that the standard application fee is increased by £25 to £1,065; the substantial change fee is increased by £15 to £680; and the annual subsistence charge is increased by £20 to £660.
In addition, an adjustment had been made to the scheme this year to introduce a reduced subsistence charge for processes involving the odorisation of natural gas.
The scheme will be laid before both Houses and a copy placed in the Libraries.