§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning pollution in the north west (a) in rivers, (b) in canals and (c) on beaches.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am aware of pollution problems in the north-west and have received a number of representations. Large reductions in the quality of rivers and canals were reported in the 1985 river quality survey and my Department will be discussing with the north-west water authority measures to bring about improvements. However, through the Mersey basin campaign, the biggest initiative of its kind in western Europe, work is already under way to improve some of the most polluted rivers in the north—west at a cost of £2.5 billion over 25 years.
In regard to beaches, I announced on 3 February that 362 more waters are to be included within the scope of the bathing water directive. Thirty of these are within the north-west water authority's area. Our aim is for all these waters to meet the directive's standards although inevitably this will take a number of years.