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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to (a) increase the rate of response in the local authority pollution control statistical survey and (b) assess the performance of inspection of polluting processes of those local authorities who failed to respond to the local authority pollution control statistical survey in 2000-01. [38641] Mr. Meacher: The rate of correct returns received at the time of publication of the 2000-01 statistical survey was 82 per cent. As a result of late returns and the inclusion of returns which had outstanding errors and queries at the time of publication, we now have a return rate of 92 per cent. We are pleased with this response rate, which we believe to be the result, among other things, of introducing electronic returns, despatching survey forms earlier, and improved guidance. We will, however, be writing to the 14 authorities that failed to send returns, and considering what steps can be taken to reduce errors and queries and tackle late returns, or whether it may be more sensible to publish the statistical report a little later in the year. We will also be contacting all authorities in the residual 8 per cent. to ascertain their inspection frequency in 2000-01.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

38641; 381 c793W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Inspections Local government Pollution Pollution control Standards Surveys

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk