HL Deb 03 February 1987 vol 484 cc131-3

2.46 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many beaches in Scotland have been notified to the European Community as meeting its standards for bathing.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Glenarthur)

My Lords, my honourable friend the Minister with responsibility for local government and the environment in Scotland is today announcing in another place a list of 23 Scottish waters identified as bathing waters in terms of the EC directive. The full list of waters has been placed in the Library and will shortly be sent to the European Commission.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. As the first list comprising 27 bathing beaches included only places in England and Wales, does the Scottish Office deal direct with the European Community in these matters, as the Department of the Environment is not responsible for the environment in Scotland?

Lord Glenarthur

Yes, my Lords, we shall be sending from the Scottish Office details to the European Community.

The Earl of Selkirk

My Lords, what is the effect of nominating a beach? Does it mean it is pure, and is it illegal to go on non-nominated beaches?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, it is not illegal to go on a non-nominated beach provided there is no other reason not to go there. But the directive defines bathing water as: fresh or sea water where bathing is explicitly authorised or bathing is not prohibited and is traditionally practised by a large number of bathers". My noble friend will see that the original directive was fairly wide.

Lord Mackie of Benshie

My Lords, does the Minister agree, in view of the lie put about that the water is cold off the beaches of Scotland, that he and other Ministers should bathe there in order to encourage tourists?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I was in St. Andrew's last night and I do not recommend the noble Lord to try the water there at the moment.

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, does my noble friend think that these are suitable places to practise foreign languages?

Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove

My Lords, will the Minister accept my congratulations on the fact that the department has now designated 23 Scottish waters? Can he perhaps clear up a point and tell us the difference between "notified" and "designated"? Some of the terms are slightly puzzling. Is he aware of just how serious the problem has become? Since the EC has had the power to designate objectives, we are now possibly seeing ourselves as others see us. Is he aware of how bad some of the beaches are, in particular those of Arran, Rothesay and Largs and others in the Clyde estuary? They can be particularly bad at certain times of the year. Can the noble Lord ask for a report on this? Will he also look at the fact that a relatively enclosed water such as the Clyde requires perhaps different treatment from the North Sea or some of the coastal areas of Europe?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that the two-year monitoring programme carried out by river purification boards will be completed at the end of 1987 and a report will be published. Perhaps I could also say to him that the clearance of litter from the beaches is the responsibility of district councils and it behoves individuals not to leave litter and so on lying around.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether Frazerburgh beach is included on the list?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, Frazerburgh is included, but I would not recommend the noble Lady to try it at this time of the year.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, as it seems that up to now no beaches in Scotland have been designated or notified to the European Community, and following what the noble Lord, Lord Carmichael, said about some of the beaches being imperfect, is my noble friend aware that nonetheless there are many clean, sparkling and unpolluted bathing beaches in Scotland which also excel in not being overcrowded?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I quite agree with my noble friend.