§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what controls he currently exercises over the effluent sampling procedures of the water authorities; and whether he will give details of the sampling frequencies adopted by each authority for (a) their own discharges and (b) other discharges for each year since 1980–81.
§ Mr. John PattenSince the implementation of section 34, part II of the Control of Pollution Act in January 1985, it has been a condition of consents granted to water 253W authorities by my right hon. Friend in respect of discharges from sewage treatment works that effluents are sampled in accordance with approved programmes. Sampling frequencies are specified within each authority's programme and they vary considerably according to the size of the works and the nature of the receiving waters. Details of samples actually taken are recorded on registers maintained by each authority and which are open for public inspection. Arrangements for sampling discharges made by bodies other than water authorities are matters for the individual authorities to decide.