§ 57. Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has any plans to bring forward the date of compliance with EEC bathing water standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanAt present, some £70 million a year is being spent on schemes to improve the quality of bathing waters. We are discussing with water authorities the costs and the feasibility of bringing all waters identified under directive 76/160/EEC up to the European standards. In 1987, some 60 per cent. of the waters met those standards. The indications are that the results for the 1988 bathing season will show a further improvement.