§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will review the procedures permitting sewage disposal in the North sea above St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythSewage sludge disposal at sea is strictly controlled by licence issued annually under Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and I see no reason to review the current arrangements.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the amounts of sewage discharged off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire, by Lothian region council, the dates of the disposal over the last five years and the location at sea where the disposal took place.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythParticulars of sewage sludge disposal operations off St. Abbs Head are already available for public inspection within the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Total amounts dumped during the months October to May in the last five years for which returns have been made are:—
Year Tonnes 1981–82 150,584 1982–83 137,430 1983–84 139,817 1984–85 120,395 1985–86 121,395 Detailed information about individual trips is not readily available.
The disposal site is some 10 miles north of St. Abbs Head and is charted.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any studies have been carried out to assess the impact of the sewage disposal being dumped off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire or the quality of the bathing water off Pease Bay.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe sea disposal of sewage sludge is strictly controlled by licence and the operations are closely monitored on an annual basis. Monitoring results indicate no foreseeable adverse consequences to the marine environment.
The bathing water of Pease Bay is one of 20 waters included in a two-year monitoring programme over the 1986 and 1987 bathing seasons. These waters are being monitored in line with the requirements of EC Directive 76/160/EEC and my right hon. and learned Friend expects to publish the results after the end of the 1987 bathing season.