Written question asked by Bill Olner (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 November 2005. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 5 December 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Crematoria

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will provide the Crematorium Authority Mercury Abatement Organisation with powers enabling it to co-ordinate implementation measures with regards to the installation of mercury-abatement equipment and emissions burden-sharing in crematoria.

Answer: We have made provision for the mercury reductions required from crematoria to be delivered through burden sharing, in response to concerns raised by some cremation organisations over alternative approaches, and have been pleased to assist the cremation sector to the extent possible in their development of suitable arrangements. This is a novel approach and is an alternative to the conventional method of identifying installations above a given size to take pollution control measures.It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in order to dictate that one particular burden sharing approach—such as that of the Crematorium Authority Mercury Abatement Organisation—be taken up by all crematoria. I have, however, extended the deadline until 1 June 2006 by when we wish to see evidence that the burden sharing approach will deliver the 50 per cent. reduction we have specified.

Secondary information