§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls are applied to the dumping of waste in British waters.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI impose strict controls on dumping to ensure that no harm is caused to the marine environment. All wastes licensed have been subject to thorough scientific tests. Only very limited categories of waste are authorised. Where disposal on land is practicable sea disposal is not licensed.
Most of the material which I license for dumping at sea is dredged spoil from harbours and estuaries. We must keep our ports open. This is, of course, also the case in other European countries, some of whom dump much more both in volume terms and contamination terms than we do. All the spoil which I license for dumping meets the relevant international rules to avoid marine pollution
Of 30 sea dumping licences for liquid industrial waste in 1987 some 20 have been reviewed in detail and either withdrawn or a firm intention to terminate given. The 10 remaining licences for liquid industrial waste are currently under review to investigate whether safe disposal on land is practicable.
Five licences for marine incineration have already been terminated and alternatives for the remaining eight are being carefully studied.
In the case of sewage sludge, this material is more than 95 per cent. water. Trace levels of contaminants in sewage sludge have been reduced by more than 60 per cent. since 1980. It was agreed at the North sea conference in 1987 not to increase contaminant levels and I am seeking to reduce them further. I am currently reviewing with the water authorities the availability of alternative methods of disposal for the sludge, including land disposal options.