Pollution (Hansard, 15 July 1988)

§ Mr. Crowther
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects a significant improvement to be achieved in the levels of pollution in the Rivers Don and Rother.
396W

§ Mr. Moynihan
The Rivers Don and Rother are among the most polluted rivers in the country and are classified as either poor (class 3) or bad (class 4) quality for most of their length. The objective for both rivers set by the Yorkshire water authority is for fair quality (class 2). This should be achieved in the current year for the Don upstream of Sheffield and the Rother south of Chesterfield. A major programme for upgrading and extending Sheffield's sewage treatment works and sewerage system, combined with improved trade effluent discharges, should result in the Don downstream of the Blackburn Meadows sewage treatment works attaining fair (class 2) quality by 1995. Through Sheffield itself, upgrading to a consistent class 2 quality standard will take longer—up to the end of the century—although the river can already support some fish life. Improvements to the remainder of the Rother—mainly through the extension of sewage treatment works capacity—should enable upgrading to class 2 quality during the period 1995–2000.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response the United Kingdom will make to the proposal by the Prime Minister of Norway at the Toronto world conference on the changing atmosphere for an extensive technology transfer programme for modern and low polluting technologies, with particular emphasis on the needs of developing countries.

§ Mr. Moynihan;
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has responded to the points raised by Mrs. Brundtland, in a written answer given today.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations were made by his Department at the world conference on the changing atmosphere: implications for global security, held in June at Toronto.

§ Mr. Moynihan
My noble Friend the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Water sent a message to the conference, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.