§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of sewage sludge will be dumped at sea by each of the water authorities in England and Wales in each year to 1998.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what weights of sewage sludge have been dumped in or off(a) the Bristol channel and (b) Liverpool bay each year since 1979; what licences he expects to issue before the end of 1998; and what weights of sewage sludge are covered under each licence.
§ Mr. CurryThe amounts of sewage sludge dumped in the Bristol channel and Liverpool bay each year since 1979 are as follows. About 95 per cent. of the weight is water.
tonnes, wet weight Bristol Channel Liverpool Bay 1979 358,280 1,653,521 1980 482,000 1,759,883 1981 328,040 1,692,680 1982 319,880 1,642,410 1983 230,145 1,299,200 1984 305,200 1,282,800 1985 262,513 1,498,973 1986 257,405 1,541,456 1987 237,956 1,626,036 1988 273,609 1,628,937 1989 306,414 1,645,609 Licences are currently held as follows:
Licensed tonnage (wet weight) Bristol Channel Wessex Water 300,000 Welsh Water 55,000 Liverpool Bay North West Water 1,970,000 I have announced that the Government intend to terminate sea disposal of sewage sludge as soon as possible, and at the latest by the end of 1998. Licence holders will be required to develop and implement plans for alternative disposal methods and a prediction of future disposals is not therefore practicable.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of sewage sludge were dumped at sea by each of the water authorities in England and Wales in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. CurryThe information will take a little time to prepare, and will be supplied as soon as possible.