HC Deb 16 February 1994 vol 237 c811W
24. Ms Quin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the future of the EC bathing and drinking water directives.

Mr. Atkins

The European Council in December asked the Commission to bring forward as soon as possible four framework directives to replace parts of existing Community water legislation. These would include replacements for the drinking and bathing water directives.

I understand that the Commission today agreed the text of a proposal for a revision of the Bathing Water Directive. The United Kingdom fully supports the move towards updating Community water legislation. We will now be examining the proposal to ensure that it meets the requirements of subsidiarity, up-to-date science and cost-effectiveness, and that it reorients the new directive towards essential quality and health parameters.