§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by rivers the classification grades of rivers in Yorkshire; what are the comparable grades for rivers(a) in southern England and (b) nationally; what the classifications represent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe 1985 river quality survey for England and Wales reported the water quality classification of river lengths in each water authority area. The classification of river lengths in the Yorkshire, Southern and Thames water authority areas, together with overall results, are as follows:
Percentage Class 1 Good Class 2 Fair quality Class 3 Poor quality Class 4 Bad quality Yorkshire Water Authority 77 12 8 3 Southern Water Authority 75 22 2 0.2 Thames Water Authority 65 28 7 0.1 England and Wales 68 22 9 2 The classifications of different rivers are best illustrated in the map which formed part of the report on the 1985 survey and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this, together with details of the river classification scheme on which the 1985 survey was based. Further details are contained in the survey report, copies of which are available in the Library.