§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent epidemiological research the Government have undertaken near incinerators; and what research they intend to undertake in the future. [126333]
§ Mr. Mullin[holding answer 20 June 2000]The Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) has carried out two Government-funded studies on cancer incidence around the older generation of more polluting incinerators ("Elliott P et al (1996). Cancer incidence near municipal solid waste incinerators in Great Britain. British Journal of Cancer, volume 73, pp 702–710", and "Elliott P et al (2000). Cancer incidence near municipal solid waste incinerators in Great Britain. Part 2: Histopathological and Case-Notes Review of Primary Liver Cancer Cases. British Journal of Cancer, volume 82, pp 1103–6.") These found a small excess of primary liver cancer in people living near to incinerators between 1974 and 1987. The Government have sought advice on these studies from the Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC).
The COC has advised that it is not possible to conclude that this small increase in primary liver cancer is due to emissions of pollutants from incinerators, as it is not possible to rule out completely that it may be related to socio-economic factors. It has also advised that any potential risk of cancer due to living near municipal incinerators (for periods in excess of 10 years) was exceedingly low and probably not measurable by the most modern epidemiological techniques. The COC has recommended that, at the present time, there is no need for any further epidemiological investigations of this subject. The COC's statement can be found on the Department of Health's website at www.doh.gov.uk/munipwst.htm.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's estimate is of the cost per year of continuous emissions monitoring at incinerators. [126805]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 20 June 2000]It is not possible to estimate with precision the cost of continuous emissions monitoring for incinerators, as this will be site-specific, varying according to the nature and circumstances of the plant, and with the manufacturer and supplier of equipment used. The Environment Agency has estimated, however, that the installed cost for continuous monitoring equipment to meet the requirements of the forthcoming waste incineration Directive would be £50–60k per plant. Annual operating costs, including calibration, are estimated to be in the range £12–18k per plant.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of continuous emissions monitoring at incinerators in Belgium. [126806]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 20 June 2000]The Government have made no assessment of continuous monitoring at incinerators in Belgium.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green), of 13 June 2000,Official Report, column 543W, on 203W consultees, for what reason (a) Friends of the Earth and (b) Greenpeace were not consulted over the EU waste incineration Directive. [127000]
§ Mr. HillFriends of the Earth were included among those to whom copies of the draft Directive and copies of our consultant's cost-benefit analyses were sent for comment. Comments on the proposal were also invited from the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection. Greenpeace were not known to have such an active interest in incineration and related issues (for example, Greenpeace did not respond to the consultation on our waste strategy consultation document A Way With Waste, nor to the earlier consultation on Less Waste More Value).
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the Government's waste strategy on the need for additional waste incinerators. [126812]
§ Mr. MullinThe Government's waste strategy is principally directed at reducing waste and, where waste is produced, at increasing recycling and composting in order to maximise the value recovered from waste and to meet the requirements of the landfill Directive.
The need for additional incinerators will depend on the success of the strategy in achieving waste reduction, and increasing recycling and composting.
Modelling of possible mixes of waste management options is included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment in the Waste Strategy 2000 (Part Two). The mix of facilities will be a matter for local authorities.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has concerning the location of future incinerators. [126813]
§ Mr. MullinThe location of facilities is a matter for local authorities. Suitable sites for new incineration plant will be determined by local planning authorities, in line with the decisions of regional planning bodies. Planning policy guidance on waste management in England is set out in "Planning Policy Guidance Note 10: Planning and waste management".