§ 1. Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many water pollution incidents were the subject of prosecutions in each of the last three years; and what was the total amount levied in fines in each year.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Bennett)With permission, Mr. Speaker. I shall circulate the full information in the Official Report. The number of successful prosecutions in the National Rivers Authority's Welsh region was 65 in the year to 31 August 1990, 85 in the year to 31 August 1991 and 20 in the three months from 31 August 1991 to 30 November 1991.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs the Minister aware of what the National Rivers Authority calls the mysteriously high levels of copper, zinc and lead pollution in the lower Ogmore estuary in my constituency? In two successive years, the Government imposed budget cuts on the NRA yet Welsh Water was fined only just over £18,000 for 17 pollution incidents, although it is making profits that average £120 million a year. Does not the Minister believe that it is about time that the Government took stiff action, 2 so that the potential to fight pollution is not wasted as it is at the moment, due to the Government's lackadaisical attitude?
§ Mr. BennettApart from the fact that the hon. Gentleman's figures are wrong, the NRA's budget is £431 million. The NRA was established by the Government to tackle water pollution—something that the last Labour Government did not do. We have increased the amount of money being spent on purifying water and the results are clear. Welsh water is cleaner than English water and is some of the best in Europe. I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman is for ever denigrating the water of Wales.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerAs I had severe doubts about the privatisation of water, can my hon. Friend tell me whether investment in water in Wales has increased or decreased since privatisation?
§ Mr. BennettMy hon. Friend will know from the figures that, under the last Labour Government, investment in the water industry was severely cut by the Treasury. Since the industry was privatised under the Government, Welsh Water alone is investing £500,000 a day, or £1.8 billion over the next 10 years, to improve our water.
§ Mr. WigleyDoes the Minister acknowledge the enormous increase in water charges in Wales since privatisation? Given that the increase is hitting hard the water rate payers in Wales, should not all the money that is raised by Welsh Water be used to increase water standards, instead of being spread around as profits among private individuals, who are benefiting from a monopoly?
§ Mr. BennettThe hon. Gentleman asked me that question before, and he still does not appear to understand the answer. All the money, and more, raised from charges to Welsh water consumers is used for investment. For every £100 raised by charges, £108 is spent on investment. The shareholders of Welsh Water—a separate company —get dividends from the investments that Welsh Water makes in other interests. Nothing is done with Welsh 3 Water charge payers' money other than to invest it in water. The hon. Gentleman ought to understand that point.
§ Following is the information:
| Prosecutions | Fines £ | Costs £ | |
| 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990 | 65 | 58,255 | 40,926.81 |
| 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991 | 85 | 306,400 | 77,582.23 |
| 1 September 1991 to 30 November 1991 | 20 | 11,300 | 6,007.23 |
§ A small number of prosecutions have been unsuccessful. Costs for the period 1 September 1991 to 30 November 1991 may be subject to amendment.
§ Further information is contained in the NRA's report "Water Pollution Incidents in England and Wales 1990", which was published last month.