§ Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about implementing the remaining provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
§ Mr. Denis HowellYes. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are proposing to implement the remaining provisions of Part II by the end of 1979.
The background to this decision is the National Water Council's proposals, published today, which recommend the 500W establishment of environmental quality objectives for rivers in England and Wales and the setting of existing and future discharge consent conditions in the light of these objectives. This is an important development in pollution control, which will provide a better basis for planning future investment and for informed discussion of priorities for the further improvement of water quality. I welcome these proposals, and I have arranged for printed copies of them, including my full statement in reply to the council, to be placed in the Library.
Once the new river quality objectives have been established and existing consents reviewed, the stage will be set for the implementation of Part II of the Act. The Government's aim is that its main provisions should be brought into full operation in England and Wales by the end of 1979. My Department and the Welsh Office will now be consulting the water industry and other interested bodies on the details of timing and on the subordinate legislation required.
As my noble Friend the Lady Birk said in another place on 2nd February, my Department and the Welsh Office have also invited the local authority associations to consider a date at which we might aim to bring into operation the remaining provisions of Part I of the Act. There will be a further statement in due course.