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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) length of potential delays in processing waste permit applications at the Environment Agency and (b) potential effect of those delays on investment in new waste processing facilities.

No assessment has been made of potential delays in processing waste permit applications at the Environment Agency or the potential effect of those delays on investment in new waste processing facilities. Each application is considered on its own merit and discussed with the individual applicant, and it is important they are assessed thoroughly.