Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Friday, 22 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 October 2004. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 October 2004 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 19th October, 425 c674W, on hazardous waste, why incidences of illegally disposed special waste were not recorded before 2002. - Inc fact that records prior to October 2001 could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Answer: Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 674W, on hazardous waste, why incidences of illegally disposed special waste were not recorded before 2002. [193724] Angela Smith: Under the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998, the movement of special waste is monitored by means of a consignment note which accompanies the waste from its point of arising to its destination. The Department of the Environment retains records for the movement of special waste including the subsequent movement of any reported illegally deposited waste. These records are available for all movements of special waste from September 1998 and were consolidated into a database from October 2001. Records prior to October 2001 date are not therefore readily available and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information