§ Donald AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to instituting specific procedures to check on the background, including criminal convictions, of new relevant persons once a waste management licence has been granted. [21210]
§ Mr. MeacherUnder section 74 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency has the power to take into account the relevant offences of a new relevant person in relation to a current waste management licence. Under section 38 of the 1990 Act, the Environment Agency has the power to suspend or revoke licences if the licence holder ceases to be a fit and proper person—one of the tests of which is relevant offences. When invoking these powers the agency must have a regard to the statutory guidance provided in Waste Management Paper 4, "Licensing of Waste Management Facilities".