APPENDIX 2
Memorandum from Ash Parish Council
HOUSE OF
COMMONS INQUIRY
Environmental Audit Committee—Corporate
Environmental Crime
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to
the above document, which was considered by the Planning Committee
at their meeting on 23 August 2004. Their response to the final
part of the enquiry is as follows:
1. It was agreed that the bodies responsible
for investigating and prosecuting corporate environmental crime
do not have sufficient powers and resources.
2. The penalties for corporate environmental
crime do not appear adequate. We suggest that fines could be made
proportionate to the size of the company committing the crime.
3. It was agreed that the criminal justice
system should continue to deal with corporate environmental offences.
4. The Committee did not agree that there
are too many environmental duties and responsibilities on corporate
bodies, however the Committee felt that they did not have enough
information to comment on the question of the application of laws
and regulations.
5. No, the Government is not doing enough
to educate the business sector in terms of their legal obligations
with regard to environmental issues which have an impact on their
business. There should be more dialogue and co-operation across
Government and the business community to ensure best practices
are met.
September 2004
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