§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of water pollution by farm wastes were recorded in each of the years 1980 to 639W 1986, and in 1987 to date, in Northern Ireland; how many of these incidents were attributable to pollution by sileage effluent, and by slurry; and how many of these incidents were the subject of warning letters and prosecutions.
§ Mr. Needham[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1987]: The table gives details of recorded water pollution incidents arising from agriculture sources for the years 1980 to 1986 inclusive. The figures show the action taken by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland for those cases referred to it for consideration for prosecution under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. The Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland have taken prosecution action under the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 or the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 respectively in each of those years but no information is readily available on the pollution sources. Figures for 1987 incidents are based on incomplete returns for the first quarter.
Slurry—Water Act (NI) 1972 Silage—Water Act (NI) 1972 Year Number of incidents Prosecutions Warning letters Number of incidents Prosecutions Warning letters 1980 355 9 — 232 6 — 1981 321 8 — 125 1 2 1982 326 — — 135 5 — 1983 357 2 2 420 60 14 1984 443 3 17 157 1 16 1985 513 13 12 418 26 28 1986 393 19 7 283 37 26 1987 51 — 2 1 — —