HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 cc624-5W
74. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to control the discharge of sewage into the sea; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

Discharges of sewage by water authorities are regulated by consents granted on behalf of the Secretary of State by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

The consent procedure will be used so as to ensure that discharges which at present have deemed consents will be determined positively. These consents, together with consents for new discharges, will be set so as to respect the EC bathing water directive, where it applies, and generally to reduce pollution by sewage.