§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the reply of 17 November,Official Report, column 527, if he will list the known sources of sewage dumping in the Bristol channel at a point some 11 miles north of Ilfracombe; and if he will list the times and places where scientific surveillance has been carried out by his Department.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 30 November 1987]: Sewage sludge dumping in the Bristol channel at a point some 11 miles north of Ilfracombe is carried out by the Wessex water authority and the Welsh water authority. The site has been in use for many years and was approved by the Ministry under internationally agreed rules.
Scientific surveillance of the site was carried out by the Ministry in the following years since statutory controls were introduced in 1974: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1987.
The surveys extended up to 10 miles from the centre of the site. In addition, regular checks are made of the composition of the sludge dumped at sea—which is in liquid form — and of the operation of the dumping vessels, including inspection of the log books.