HC Deb 30 March 2000 vol 347 cc224-5W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide the details of the 2000–01 charging scheme for local air pollution control under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. [117388]

Mr. Hill

Charges 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. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has made a revised scheme specifying the scale of fees and charges to take effect from 1 April 2000.

The initial application fee will be unchanged and the annual subsistence fee will be increased by roughly 0.75 per cent. The main change is that the standard subsistence fee is increased by £6 from £790 to £796. The standard application fee remains at £1,280.

The scheme will be laid before both Houses and copies placed in the Libraries.