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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to tackle problems associated with noise and dirt emanating from industrial units located near to residential properties.

Owners of industrial, trade and business premises are expected to use the best practicable means available to reduce noise, dust and other potential sources of statutory nuisance emanating from their place of work in the first place. If this is not happening then local authorities have powers through the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to investigate and issue abatement notices to stop the problem from re-occurring if they determine a statutory nuisance exists.

The current legislation provides local authorities with the necessary powers to deal with these types of issues and there are no plans for legislative change at this moment.