§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal sanctions have been taken against water authorities which do not comply with European Economic Community directives.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe United Kingdom has a generally good record in implementing these directives, and to date the Government have not found it necessary to take legal action to enforce their provisions.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken in cases where a water authority has not complied with any European Economic Community directive on water.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe Department is in frequent contact with water authorities on the implementation of EC directives on water. The authorities make detailed reports on implementation to the Department covering such matters as the quality of drinking water, the authorisation of discharges, the monitoring of the aquatic environment, and methods of frequency of sampling. Where these reports indicate that the obligations of directives are not being complied with, authorities are instructed to take steps to remedy the position and, where necessary, to agree programmes with the Department.