HC Deb 29 March 1999 vol 328 cc458-9W
Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he calculates the notional costs described in the consultation papers on the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations; and what is the proportion of these costs in relation to the proposed charges for work undertaken by(a) Environment Agency inspectors in Wales, (b) Environment Agency inspectors in England and (c) Scottish Environment Protection Agency inspectors in Scotland. [77214]

Mr. Meale

The notional costs are calculated by the Agencies to reflect the rate of return on capital and a notional insurance premium. The proportion of notional costs in relation to the proposed charges for work undertaken by Environment Agency inspectors in England and Wales is: (a) and (b) 3 per cent. The notional element in SEPA charges in Scotland is (c) 2.5 per cent.

Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the levels of relevant input costs in(a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland in relation to the proposed inspection charges to be levied by the Environment Agency in Wales and England, and by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations. [77212]

Mr. Meale

Estimates of the costs of inspection under the COMAH regulations by the Environment Agency in England and Wales and by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland are a matter for the two Agencies. The chargeable costs that the Environment Agency estimates that it will incur as a COMAH competent authority in England and Wales are(a) and (b) £900,000 in 1999–2000 rising to £2,200,000 in 2000–01 as the work builds up.

These costs will be recovered on the same basis in England and Wales. A split of costs between England and Wales is not available. The costs which SEPA estimates that it will incur as a competent authority for COMAH in Scotland are: (c) £200,000 in 1999–2000.