Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions and engagement his Department has had with the UK's highest polluters to encourage them to reduce their emissions.

Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, a wide range of industrial installations require an environmental permit to operate. Permits set conditions of operation, including limits on emissions of pollutants. Permits for large and more polluting industries are issued and enforced by the Environment Agency. Smaller premises are regulated by local authorities.

Permits require use of best available techniques (BAT) to prevent and reduce emissions to air, water and land. The UK Government and Devolved Administrations have published the government response to the joint consultation on the ‘Best Available Techniques’: a future regime within the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).