§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the cost to the water authorities of implementing the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneIt is for water authorities to estimate and meet their own costs in connection with the implementation of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. My Department has no figures. However, it was estimated in 1981 that some 100 extra staff could be needed to administer the Act when it is fully implemented. Since that estimate was made the numbers employed by the water authorities have reduced by more than 9,000.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made on the implementation of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GowA commencement order and associated regulations will come into force on 31 January, to make part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 the statutory basis for water pollution control in Great Britain. The Act
104W
Defective Housing, by Local Authority, England 1 April 1984 Local Authority Unfit (number) Percentage of total stock Fit but lacking basic amenities (number) Percentage of total stock Non-substandard in need of renovation (number) Percentage of total stock North (excluding Cumbria) Hartlepool 1,166 3.37 1,553 4.49 7,413 21.41 Langbaurgh * * * * * * Middlesbrough 142 0.26 1,095 2.01 4,079 7.50 Stockton-on-Tees 671 1.02 1,539 2.35 7,264 11.08 Chester-le-Street * * * * * * will then provide a comprehensive framework for protecting the water environment. All waters around our coasts, and all inland waters will come within the pollution control system, as well as such underground waters as may be specified.
Although certain provisions of that part of the Act remain to be brought into force, we will have completed phase 2 of the implementation programme announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) on 15 February 1982.
Specific provisions now coming into effect include those which give water authorities in England and Wales, and in Scotland the river purification boards, wide powers to deal with accidental pollution and to prevent pollution from agricultural sources. Codes of good agricultural practice published by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, on 22 January provide farmers with guidance on the measures to be taken to avoid polluting the water environment. Other regulations soon to be laid before the House will require authorities from 31 July to keep public registers giving details of the conditions attached to consents for discharges to relevant waters and of samples of these discharges.
I have also agreed with the Water Authorities Association a memorandum of practice on the consenting and monitoring of water authorities' own discharges, and I am placing copies in the Libraries of the House.