§ Paddy TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the responses to the consultation paper on the implementation of the revised Large Combustion Plants Directive favoured the implementation of the Directive by(a) an Emission Limit Values approach and (b) a National Emission Reduction Plan approach. [133178]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 21 October 2003]: Some 70 substantive responses have been received so far from individuals, businesses, trade associations, environmental groups, regulators, and Government agencies. Of these about 30 favoured the implementation of the Directive by emission limit approach; about 20 favoured the national plan approach; and about 20 expressed no views. In addition, some 1550 individual letters have been received so far from employees of the coal mining and associated industries, all of which favoured the emissions limits approach.
§ Paddy TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the effect of the National Emission Reduction Plan outlined in the revised Large 647W Combustion Plants Directive on (a) the English coal mining industry and (b) English coalfield communities. [133367]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 21 October 2003]: The Government has just completed a consultation on a proposal to implement the Large Combustion Plants Directive for plants first licensed before July 1987 using a national plan. Officials have discussed the potential impact of the alternative implementation routes with representatives of the UK coil industry and have received consultation responses from the Confederation of UK Coal Producers and other bodies and organisations with an interest in UK coal mining. The Government will take a decision on the most appropriate implementation approach after considering all of the consultation responses.