§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the pupils of Canon Slade school, Bolton from whom he has received letters about pollution and the environment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received copies of 17 letters from pupils of Canon Slade school which my hon. Friend sent him. The letters are about coastal pollution and a full reply will be sent shortly enclosing literature which we hope they will find interesting and informative.
The Government are concerned about coastal pollution and are committed to securing improvements to our coastal waters. The water industry's investment programme of some £2 billion is accomplishing a steady increase in the quality of our bathing waters—82 per cent. achieved the mandatory coliform standards of the bathing water directive last season. It is our firm intention that the programme should be completed as soon as practical constraints, such as planning procedures, permit. The hulk of the schemes will he complete by around the end of this year.