asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether discussions between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency will result in integrated pollution prevention control charges being reduced for pig and poultry farmers. [HL4579]

I recently met representatives of the intensive livestock rearing industry to discuss permit charges and, in particular, how annual charges might be reduced through streamlined approaches to inspection. The Environment Agency and the National Farmers’ Union are currently considering options, including what greater use might be made of assurance scheme visits.

The Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 require permit applications to be accompanied by the prescribed fee. The Environment Agency must seek to recover its full costs in accordance with HM Treasury guidance. The agency will review the costs when the majority of the applications have been assessed and the full extent of the work is known.