HC Deb 27 April 1989 vol 151 cc659-60W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the highest level of(a) E. cob and (b) total coliforms per 100 ml. found in the 1988 bathing waters survey at Seaton Carew centre, Hartlepool bay; and if he will publish in the Official Report full details of all the water samples at Seaton Carew centre that failed both the total coliform and the faecal coliform tests.

Mr. Howard

[holding answer 25 April 1989]: The results obtained during the 1988 bathing season at the Seaton Carew centre sampling point are as follows:

Date Total coliforms number per 100 ml Faecal coliforms number per 100 ml
6 May 1988 110 80
20 May 1988 3,500 680
14 June 1988 3,700 1,200
24 June 1988 10 10
1 July 1988 13,000* 13,000*
15 July 1988 820 220
29 July 1988 3,100 600
3 August 1988 2,900 670
25 August 1988 3,700 2,000
31 August 1988 10,000 3,000*
2 September 1988 110,000* 110,000*
19 September 1988 3,000,000* 3,000,000*

Those results marked with an asterisk do not comply with the relevant imperative standard set in directive 76/160/EEC and those for 19 September are wholly exceptional. Northumbrian water authority has plans to improve the bathing waters at Seaton Carew to ensure that they consistently meet the EC standards.

Mr. John Garrett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the cost of bringing beaches in Norfolk up to EEC standards; and from what date he expects the standards to be met.

Mr. Howard

[holding answer 25 April 1989]: My right hon. Friend has asked Anglian water authority to draw up detailed plans with a view to bringing its bathing waters up to EC standards by 1995. Until these plans have been fully assessed it is not possible to give details of the cost involved.