Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 July 1998. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 27 July 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions what proportion of local authorities do not have an inspection policy or do not routinely inspect polluting factories in connection with air pollution control laws; and what measures he proposes to improve enforcement of air pollution control laws by local authorities. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of local authorities do not have an inspection policy or do not routinely inspect polluting factories in connection with air pollution control laws; and what measures he proposes to improve enforcement of air pollution control laws by local authorities. [52535] Angela Eagle: My Department issued guidance to local authorities in 1995 on types and frequency of inspection under the Local Air Pollution Control regime. Information is not obtained centrally on whether local authorities have an inspection policy, but data held by my Department show that 9,400 routine/programmed inspections were carried out by local authorities in 1996-97 in relation to this regime. The recent Local Air Pollution Control audit raised concerns about local authority inspection and action to address this and to improve enforcement of the Local Air Pollution Control system is being drawn up in response to the auditor's report.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 52535; 317 c14-5W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Air pollution Inspections Functions Local government Pollution control
Contains statistics: Yes