§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many kilometres of rivers in Derbyshire are adversely affected by discharges from abandoned mines; and what representations he has received asking him to bring such discharges under the control of a responsible body.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 15 February 1989]: I understand that up to 60 km of rivers in Derbyshire may be adversely affected by discharges from abandoned mines.
I am aware of the concern which has been expressed about the problems caused by these discharges in some areas. It will be for the National Rivers Authority—as the
(a) Aggregate Exchequer Grant—cash terms. £ million 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 South East 3,627 3,789 3,756 3,795 3,784 3,960 4,103 4,242 Greater London 1,942 2,138 2,059 2,035 2,177 2,315 2,447 2,697 South East excluding Greater London 1,685 1,651 1,697 1,760 1,607 1,645 1,656 1,545 South West 899 921 932 975 959 960 1,016 1,085 East Anglia 351 363 369 382 369 381 411 408 West Midlands 1,111 1,155 1,263 1,300 1,281 1,357 1,405 1,409 East Midlands 870 883 920 1,039 953 924 998 1,027 North West 1,809 1,840 1,916 1,963 2,001 1,999 2,159 2,266 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,350 1,395 1,441 1,538 1,469 1,455 1,609 1,674 Northern Region 914 888 923 946 959 915 1,032 1,082 Total 10,931 11,234 11,520 11,938 11,775 11,951 12,733 13,193
(b) Aggregate Exchequer Grant—1988–89 prices. £ million 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 South East 5,201 5,071 4,808 4,623 4,374 4,429 4,359 4,242 Greater London 2,784 2,861 2,636 2,479 2,516 2,589 2,600 2,697 South East excluding Greater London 2,417 2,210 2,172 2,144 1,858 1,840 1,759 1,545 South West 1,289 1,232 1,193 1,188 1,109 1,074 1,080 1,08.5 East Anglia 503 486 472 466 426 426 437 408 West Midlands 1,593 1,546 1,617 1,584 1,481 1,518 1,493 1,409 East Midlands 1,247 1,181 1,178 1,266 1,102 1,034 1,060 1,027 North West 2,594 2,462 2,453 2,391 2,313 2,236 2,294 2,266 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,936 1,867 1,844 1,874 1,698 1,628 1,710 1,674 Northern Region 1,310 1,188 1,182 1,153 1,108 1,023 1,096 1,082 Total 15,673 15,033 14,747 14,545 13,611 13,368 13,529 13,193 Information is not available on a comparable basis for years prior to 1981–82. Cash values have been converted to constant 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to offer derogations from the European Economic Community regulations on nitrate pollution to private water companies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 16 February 1989]: We have no plans to grant to private water companies derogations from the nitrate standard of the EC drinking water directive.
580Wresponsible body for regulating all discharges to water—to tackle these problems where the discharges are preventing the achievement of river quality objectives.