To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes in responsibility or statutory duties he envisages for local authorities following the setting up of a national environmental agency in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) by my right hon. Friend on 25 February, Official Report, column 722.We plan to transfer to the proposed Scottish environment protection agency the existing district and islands councils' responsibilities in Scotland for waste regulation and local authority air pollution control under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the islands councils' responsibilities as river purification authorities.