HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 cc85-6W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on North sea pollution and his plans to tackle it.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The quality status report prepared by experts from all the North sea states for the second international conference on protection of the North sea chaired by my right hon. Friend, indicated that generally the North sea was in good condition, although there were some problem areas, particularly on the eastern coast for example in the Wadden sea and German Bight where the major continental rivers discharge into slow moving shallow water. At last year's conference we agreed

£000
1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88
Acid rain 1,050 1,440 2,420 3,600 3,470
Ozone layer 70 90 50 100 120
Motor vehicle 450 380 790 750 1,000
Marine and estuarine 680 820 690 830 930

a very wide range of measures covering all the main aspects of man's inputs to the sea including a substantial reduction of the input of dangerous substances to rivers and estuaries and an end to dumping of harmful industrial waste and waste incineration at sea.

We have taken an early lead in implementing these measures and the progress being made by all the North sea states will be reviewed as part of the third North sea conference to be held in the Hague on 7 and 8 March 1990.