EC WATER DIRECTIVES AND SUBSIDIARITY

HL Deb 10 October 1994 vol 557 cc98-9WA

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the costs to the United Kingdom of complying with each of the European water directives, and why they do not intend to invoke the principle of subsidiarity to resist the Commission's proposal for a revised Bathing Waters Directive.

Viscount Ullswater

Many of the EC water directives were adopted in the 1970s and bear on a variety of industrial sectors. In the past, data on the cost of compliance have not been collected. However, for more recent directives compliance cost assessments are prepared and laid before Parliament.

The Government accept the need for Community action to simplify and update the existing Bathing Waters Directive and will seek and update the existing Bathing Waters Directive and will seek to ensure that the principles of subsidiarity are respected.