HC Deb 04 July 1989 vol 156 c131W
Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the precise locations of each application made for derogation of sewage discharges in the north-west; if he will list also any other derogation currently in force in the north-west; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will state for each sewage derogation site currently approved or under consideration by his Department in the north-west (a) what improvement programmes for effluent at each location has been submitted, (b) what are the commencement and finishing dates for such improvement programmes and (c) what are the target levels for achievement of the improvement of effluent at the point of discharge; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Howard

[holding answer 30 June 1989]: I announced on 7 December 1988 at column 199, an accelerated capital investment programme of about £1 billion to bring sub-standard sewage treatment works into compliance with their discharge consents. Water authorities may apply for time-limited discharge consents to regularise the present discharge whilst these improvements are carried out.

A list of the applications made for time-limited consents where improvements are planned has been placed in the Library. Details of these applications are on the register maintained by each water authority and are available for public inspection. The applications have also been advertised by the authorities concerned.

In some cases improvements have already commenced and in others will commence shortly. In general, I expect the improvements to be completed, by March 1992, but in some cases because of the scale of design and construction work which is necessary, works will be completed as soon as practically possible thereafter.

The time-limited consents will not permit deterioration in the current performance of these works and consent conditions no less stringent than those which currently apply will be reintroduced once the work is complete. The programme is expected to produce significant improvements in river quality both in the north-west and more generally.

Details of all discharge consents, including any derogations currently in force, are available on the authority's public register.