Bathing Water (Hansard, 13 December 1993)

§ Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the quality of sea water off the beaches in and adjacent to the Castle Point constituency meets the European Community directive on bathing water standards.

§ Mr. Yeo
The results of water quality monitoring in the 1993 season for bathing waters in the area are shown in the Department's press release No. 818 copies of which have been placed in the Library.

§ Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the results of the study into the effects on health of sea water bathing around the British coastline which was conducted by pilot study in collaboration with the University of Wales water research centre; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Yeo
A report on the pilot study was published on 19 June 1990 and placed in the Library.

§ Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the results of the sea water bathing health study which took place at Southend on Sea on 4 July 1992; and what implications can be drawn from that study on the advisability of sea water bathing in and around the Castle Point constituency.

§ Mr. Yeo
The study at Southend in 1992 forms part of the four-year programme of research at a number of locations on which the final report will be published shortly.

§ Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is safe to bathe from beaches serving the coastline in and adjacent to the Castle Point constituency; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Yeo
Safety will depend on a large number of factors including wind, wave and tidal conditions and the competence of the bather. Methods of risk assessment are described in "Safety on British Beaches" published by 443W RoSPA and RLSS UK. The advice from the Department of Health is that there is minimal risk of serious disease from swimming in British coastal waters.