§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the cost of lost tourist trade to resorts that have failed to reach the European Economic Community blue flag safety levels on their beaches.
§ Mr. NichollsNo such estimate has been made. Thanks to a major programme of remedial works, there has been a very marked improvement in bathing water quality in recent years, with 76 per cent. of identified waters now meeting European Community standards. Further planned capital investment of almost £3 billion should help to ensure that all bathing waters meet EC standards by the end of the century.