§ 43. Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what directions he has given to the chairman of the National Rivers Authority advisory committee with regard to the maintenance of river pollution standards subsequent to the introduction of the National Rivers Authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanNone. The privatisation legislation will put the existing system of quality objectives and standards on a statutory basis, and allow my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, to set such objectives in the light of recommendations from the National Rivers Authority. These arrangements cannot be brought into operation until the NRA has been established and the relevant pollution control functions have been transferred to it. Until then, such matters remain the responsibility of the regional water authorities.