§ Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to seek to restrict pollution of British beaches not currently covered by Community legislation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveSince July 1984 all new discharges of effluent to coastal and estuarial waters have required consent under Part II of the Control of Pollution Act, 1974. The Government have announced their intention to make regulations extending this control to all such discharges begun prior to that date. In addition, under the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships (MARPOL), the discharge of oil from ships is totally prohibited within 12 miles of the coast, and at greater distances is strictly controlled.