AQW 12137/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 16/12/2020
Answered On Date: 19/01/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether (i) the Northern Ireland Environment Agency inspect and report on the activities of quarries where a license exists but they do not appear on the UK Government's list of businesses and sites registered for the Aggregates Levy and; (ii) a quarry that has not appeared on the list for more than two years, and, therefore, has not paid a levy, can have the license removed.

Answer:

The operation of, and compliance with, the Aggregates Levy Scheme is a matter for HMRC. The licencing of the quarry operations and its compliance in this regard is a matter for the Department for the Economy.

With regard to quarries the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) role is only in relation to permits or consents regarding surface water, groundwater, emissions to air and waste materials. NIEA will undertake inspections and regulate the site in order to ensure compliance with the permits and consents which they issue.