§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many incidents of water pollution by farm waste were recorded in each of the years 1980 to 1987, and in 1988 to date, in Scotland; how many of these incidents were attributable to pollution by silage effluent, and by slurry; how many of these incidents were the subject of warning letters and prosecutions; and how many prosecutions were successful.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe numbers of water pollution incidents in Scotland arising from farm waste in each of the years 1982 to 1987 are as shown in the table. Cases within those totals involving silage effluent and slurry are shown separately. Complete data are not available for 1980, 1981, or 1988 to date. Statistics on numbers of warning letters issued by river purification boards are not held centrally.
Type of incident Number of incidents Number of successful prosecutions Number of unsuccessful prosecutions 1982 Total farm waste 263 2 — Silage effluent 86 — — Slurry 51 2 — 1983 Total farm waste 414 16 1 Silage effluent 232 9 — Slurry 73 3 1 1984 Total farm waste 330 12 — Silage effluent 116 4 — Slurry 71 6 — 1985 Total farm waste 763 13 — Silage effluent 503 10 — Slurry 88 2 — 1986 Total farm waste 478 7 1 Silage effluent 241 2 1 Slurry 70 0 — 1987 Total farm waste 713 17 1 Silage effluent 428 6 — Slurry 88 5 —