Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Andrew Turner (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 7 July 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environmental Regulation

Question: I notice that the Minister cannot answer the question. It will not surprise him that I refer to Sue Hemmings's pet crematorium and pet cemetery in my constituency, where five animals a year are buried. She faces licence application fees of £6,000 and £1,100 a year. Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency, has written to me, recognising that this all seems disproportionate in terms of the scale and risk of Mrs. Hemmings's operation. I thank him and his officials for looking for a way round those absurd fee levels—but he also tells me that the Secretary of State approved the ludicrous fees. What planet does she live on if she does not recognise the impact that those astronomical and unjustifiable fees will have on small businesses with tight margins?

Answer: There are two issues here. Regulation is important and has a sensible role, in relation to pet cemeteries as well as other things. The other issue is the cost. It is not unreasonable to examine the costs to see whether they are proportionate. Of course there has to be an element of inspection and management, and it is not unreasonable that people who are part of what is being inspected should contribute towards that. That is a fair distribution of burdens. However, I understand the hon. Gentleman's point, and the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), has been talking to the Environment Agency about whether the costs are proportionate to the size of the business and the risks involved.

Secondary information