§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the level of polychlorinated biphenyls in the North sea.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 12 December 1988]: Information about inputs of PCBs, concentrations in marine species and ecological effects in the North sea is contained in the quality status report (scientific and technical working group) prepared for the second North sea conference in November last year, a copy of which is in the Library.
As the report shows, levels of PCBs in European coastal waters have been declining. Levels in United Kingdom waters are considerably lower than in the eastern North sea. Monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries 634W and Food and water authorities continues, but generally levels are so low that it is difficult to make reliable estimates for rivers and coastal waters.