HL Deb 10 July 1995 vol 565 cc1374-6

2.55 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their latest estimates of the percentage of pollution of the North Sea caused by land-based sources and of the proportion of this originating from the rivers of Continental North-West Europe.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)

My Lords, the best estimate which we have is that more than 70 per cent. of man's input of contaminants to the sea comes from land-based sources. Data from different countries are not strictly comparable, but it is clear that continental rivers are the largest source of anthropogenic contamination of the North Sea. Over 50 per cent. of some contaminants come from the rivers which flow into the North Sea from the German, Belgian and Dutch coasts. These estimates would be even higher if those countries were to use our rigorous measurement methods.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his reply. Cannot more effective measuring instruments be installed to record the pollution being caused by these North Sea rivers? Will the British Government counter misinformed information about Britain's role in the North Sea by pointing out, among other things, that the Brent Spar was not to be dumped in the North Sea but was to be sunk one-and-a-half miles deep many miles away in the Atlantic, where scientists have advised that it would have little effect on its surroundings?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, there are already harmonised monitoring arrangements in place for a wide range of contaminants in all UK coastal waters providing measurements in river estuaries at tidal limits. That includes the use of instruments where necessary. I agree with my noble friend's observations about Brent Spar. He is correct in saying that it was to be sunk one-and-a-half miles deep in the Atlantic. In fact less than 1 per cent. of it consists of sludge and scale which is only slightly radioactive. It is as radioactive, I understand, as a street of granite buildings in Aberdeen. It has a little zinc on the outside to help keep off the barnacles, and it contains a few mercury batteries containing some eight ounces of mercury. Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands every year put into the North Sea more than 40 times more copper and 70,000 times more lead than there is in Brent Spar.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I have a Question on the Brent Spar on the Order Paper tomorrow? Will he give me an assurance that he will not just refer me to the answer that he has given today to a Question that is not about the Brent Spar? Bearing in mind his detailed statement about pollution in the North Sea caused through the rivers, is he aware that this country's record is not that great? Until a few years ago a great deal of pollution in the North Sea and other seas around Britain was caused by local authorities which then had the responsibility of disposing of sewage by pumping raw sewage out from pipes to where people were bathing. I know the situation has improved since that responsibility was removed from them, but will the Minister give us an undertaking that that activity has now been almost eliminated?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, it seems that I have answered the Question tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Dean, which is due to be answered tomorrow. I had not realised that I had done so, but, if I have, he will be able to remove it from the Order Paper. He accuses me of answering that Question but in fact I answered the Question tabled by my noble friend Lord Campbell of Croy—and a jolly good Question it was, and it received an even better reply.

The noble Lord is right to be concerned about putting sewage sludge into the sea. A great deal has been done and is being done to prevent that. I should have to let him know exactly what is the situation, but I do not believe that it has stopped completely. However, I remind the noble Lord that Belgium puts 50 per cent. of its sewage into the rivers which goes thereafter into the sea and all the sewage of Brussels goes into the Senne and thereafter out into the sea. Therefore, that record is a good deal worse than ours.

Lord Marsh

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there seems to be no argument at all that the Brent Spar platform would not have been a major contaminant with the policy intended for it? But does he also agree that the problem is serious because there are literally hundreds of platforms which will have to be disposed of? The idea that they can all be dumped in the Atlantic is worrying. What is the Government's policy in relation to the disposal of those platforms?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that there was not much argument by those who knew that the best place to put the Brent Spar was in the North Atlantic. But a great deal of argument was put forward by people inflamed by passion. If the noble Lord wishes to know what is the Government's policy in relation to the dumping and disposal of oil platforms in the North Sea, I should be happy to answer any Question tabled by him to that effect.

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

My Lords, is the Minister aware that research shows that we shall fail to meet five of our internationally agreed targets by the end of this year in relation to pesticides and heavy metal, including mercury and cadmium? What is the Government's policy as regards enabling us to meet the internationally agreed targets?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, the targets set by the North Sea Conference were to halve inputs of 36 substances. The United Kingdom anticipates achieving the target for 24 of the 36 substances and reducing by more than 45 per cent. three other substances. Work is continuing to ensure that the targets are met as soon as possible.