§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of water pollution incidents recorded by each water authority in each year since 1980–81; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what was the number of prosecutions for water pollution offences taken by each water authority in each year since 1980–81; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. John PattenThe number of reported water pollution incidents and the number of prosecutions for water pollution offences taken by each English water authority in each year since 1980–81 are:
Reported Pollution Incidents 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Thames 1,531 1,426 1,584 1,792 1,902 Southern 1,196 1,300 1,327 1,400 1,574 North West 1,290 1,350 1,288 1,385 2,241 Severn Trent 2,583 2,401 2,681 3,354 4,372 Wessex N/A N/A 790 966 1,125 South West 1,057 1,055 1,140 1,600 1,685 Anglian 968 1,095 1,077 1,288 1,557 Northumbrian 501 509 544 613 654 Yorkshire 1,071 1,136 1,020 1,165 1,536 Prosecutions Thames 5 6 5 3 5 Southern 4 7 15 2 15 North West 17 19 16 68 70 Severn Trent 12 18 16 20 23 Wessex 10 11 15 30 29 South West 10 8 7 13 12 Anglian 13 30 21 20 17 Northumbrian 5 0 0 1 2 Yorkshire 15 30 29 16 33 Many incidents are minor and it is often difficult to obtain firm evidence as to the source of the pollution. In any case, water authorities will often prefer to act by discussion and persuasion rather than mount formal action.
In July last year the Government completed the introduction of all the main provisions of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. These provide a comprehensive framework for the protection of the water environment and include the extension of controls to cover all coastal, esturial and inland waters. The Government are also considering whether to implement fully and extend the powers under which areas can be designated within which certain activities liable to cause pollution can be prohibited or controlled.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of effluent discharges by each water authority which were not in compliance with their consent conditions in each year since 1980–81; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenRoutine information on compliance by the English water authorities with their consents for the discharge of effluents has not been held by my Department. However, following the implementation of section 34 of the Control of Pollution Act, water authorities are now required, as a condition of discharge consents, to report annually on those works which fail to comply with the terms of their consents. The first reports, for the year ended 31 December 1986, are due to be submitted early in 1987.
Copies of consents, together with the results of analyses of effluent samples are contained in registers maintained by authorities and these are now open to public inspection.