HC Deb 05 November 1992 vol 213 c365W
1992. Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents of water pollution on Britain's bathing beaches were reported in(a) 1980 and (b)

Mr. Maclean

No data are held centrally for 1980. The results for the 1992 bathing water survey are not yet available. In 1991, 76 per cent. of the United Kingdom's 453 identified bathing waters met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC bathing water directive.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people in Britain are supplied with water that does not reach the EC regulated standard.

Mr. Maclean

Information on drinking water quality in England and Wales is contained in "Drinking Water 1991", the second annual report by the chief drinking water inspector, published in July 1992. Copies have been placed in the Library. It is planned to publish shortly a similar report on drinking water quality in Scotland.