§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the likely implications for the British sea and river environments of the pesticides and other chemical wastes that pollute them; and what measures he intends to take to reduce the continuing pollution of rivers and oceans.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe rivers and coastal waters of the United Kingdom are among the cleanest in Europe. Discharges of potentially polluting substances are controlled by water authorities in England and Wales (and by river purification boards in Scotland) under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 with the aim of maintaining and, where necessary, improving water quality.
The Government have, however, announced their intention to adopt a more precautionary approach to controlling inputs to rivers and estuaries of the most dangerous substances. I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 18 November. This approach will involve the minimisation of direct discharges of a limited list of the most dangerous substances, as well as greater attention to inputs from diffuse or indirect sources. The Government have also announced its intention to put the existing quality objectives for rivers and estuaries on a statutory footing, and are considering a number of other measures to strengthen pollution control.
With regard to pollution of the sea, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be hosting the second international conference on the North sea, in London, on 24 and 25 November. We will be discussing with Ministers from other participating countries what actions may be needed to safeguard the quality of the marine environment of the North sea.