§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available resources to bring beaches along the north Devon coastline up to European Community standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe responsibility for ensuring that the bathing waters in north Devon meet the standards set in directive 76/160/EEC rests with the South-West water authority. It is for the authority in the first instance to submit details of its spending needs to the Government in its annual corporate plan. Decisions on plans will be made in the light of each authority's overall spending needs. My right hon. Friend expects to be able to make allocations of external finance to each authority for 1988–89 later this year. Allocations are not made for specific projects or policies.