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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward proposals to amend the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to enable local authorities to take action on nuisance odours in residential properties alongside industrial, trade or business premises.

Section 79(1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) already makes provision for local authorities to take action on fumes and gases emitted from residential premises that are prejudicial to health or a nuisance. This would include fumes and gases that are also odorous. Putrefying accumulations or deposits that are prejudicial to health or a nuisance can also be dealt with under section 79(1)(e) of the EPA. Odours from residential properties that result from reasonable, everyday activity, such as cooking, would not be considered a statutory nuisance.