Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities are required to (a) retain and (b) disclose DSEAR assessments for major infrastructure projects.

Local planning authorities (LPAs) are not under a general statutory duty to either (a) retain or (b) disclose DSEAR assessments for major infrastructure projects.

The legal duties under DSEAR sit primarily with the employer/operator (the duty holder). The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) require employers to assess the risks to safety from fire, explosions and substances corrosive to metals and put control measures in place to either remove the risks or, where this is not possible, control them. Employers should also prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving dangerous substances and ensure that employees are properly informed and trained to control or deal with the risks from the dangerous substances.