§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give additional financial assistance to the North-West water authority in order to assist it in its attempts to improve the rivers and coastal waters within its area.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend has told the authority that its needs will have a high priority in our allocation of the external finance available to the water industry. The Government will continue to seek European Community funds in support of the authority's programmes. Otherwise, there are no plans to change the current policy that spending by a water authority to benefit its region should be met by the region.
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§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of rivers in the North-West water authority area are in class 3 and class 4 pollution categories; how many miles of estuaries in the same area are similarly classified; what is the significance of these classifications; what plans he has to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveLast year 631 km of river in the authority's area were in class 3, poor quality, and 223 km in class 4, grossly polluted. The corresponding figures for estuaries were 71 km in class C and 63 km in class D. The authority has responsibility for surface water quality in their area and have issued a consultation document about its improvement which the Government are considering.