§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the present standard of cleanliness of the beaches in Britain.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryIn 1989 a total of 76 per cent. of our bathing waters met the standards set in the EEC bathing water directive compared with only 51 per cent. in 1986. Over the next 10 years, around £2.9 billion will be invested to bring all of our bathing waters up to standard and to treat all significant discharges of sewage.