SCOTTISH Environment Minister Lord Sewel said yesterday he would back the removal of toxic soil from Scotland's largest landfill site if an imminent scientific report recommended such action.

Lord Sewel made the comments during a visit to the Greengairs dump, near Airdrie, which attracted criticism when it accepted soil containing harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from England earlier this year.

Protesters said the material was 10 times too toxic for any dump in England and called for further work to be carried out on the dangers posed by the 160 tonnes of soil.

Site operator Shanks and McEwan agreed to commission an independent assessment of the dump and a final report by environmental experts is expected in two weeks. Interim findings were issued this week, though the details have not been released.

Lord Sewel yesterday highlighted the environmental credentials of the plant operator, which has introduced a system to convert methane emissions from waste into electricity for the national grid.

The Minister said standards were continually being raised and regulations tightened, though he stressed that it was important to use waste in a positive way where possible. That could reduce emissions which contribute to global warming, he added.

Lord Sewel said it was crucial to retain public confidence in the industry and he acknowledged the concerns of the public over issues such as PCBs and emissions from landfill sites.

But he said the transfer of the contaminated soil to the dump had been carried out in line with a licence issued by the former Monklands District Council.

He added that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had since lowered the levels of PCB waste permitted at the site in line with EU regulations.

Asked if he would endorse the findings of the current site assessment if it recommended removing the soil, he said he ''undoubtedly'' would take such action ''if I got scientific advice that it was necessary on public health grounds''.

Scottish Office sources added that they were confident the report would not demand removal of the soil.

Lord Sewel also played down recent reports that mothers living close to landfill sites were at risk of giving birth to babies with deformities.

And he said measures were in place at the Greengairs dump to tackle leaching - leaks into the water table caused by rainwater washing over the dumped waste.

He said: ''I recognise that people living close to the site would have understandable concerns, they are quite right to ask questions and express their concerns.

''But it's up to the Government, the regulatory bodies, and the company to assure people that the regulatory framework is robust.

''What I have seen here gives me confidence and all the advice that I receive says that this operation is safe.''

Mr Ken Morin, managing director of Shanks and McEwan northern division, also played down the controversy over the contaminated soil, stressing that it was low level waste and not ''highly'' toxic material as has been suggested.

Mr Morin said the company would consider removing the soil if it was recommended, despite the practical problems, but said such an eventuality was unlikely.

He said the electricity produced at the dump could power 1000 homes for a year and output would double by the end of the year.