HC Deb 06 July 1989 vol 156 cc243-4W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contacts his Department has had with the North West water authority over its proposals to construct a long sea outfall at Rossall point on the Fylde coast.

Commodity 2United Kingdom stocks '000 tonnes 3EC stock '000 tonnes
1979 1984 1989 1979 1984 1989
Wheat Nil 95 255 11,219 14,989 13,289
Beef 11 10 21 161 295 331
Olive Oil n/a Nil Nill n/a 185 259

The cost of storing and maintaining these stocks during 1988 was:

Mr. Donald Thompson

Officials were informed of the North West water authority's work at an early stage. Before plans were drawn up the Ministry were asked to provide information about fisheries in the Fylde coast area. After consultation with local fisheries organisations this information was provided with a view to seeking to ensure that interference with fisheries was avoided. The Ministry sought from the authority information about the possible locations of the discharge and the nature and likely effect of the effluent. The authority gave a detailed presentation of the results of its studies of the various options and explained the reasons for the preferred option, and the Ministry has clarified further points of detail. The Ministry has since been formally consulted under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 on the proposed outfall.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the potential for hydro transportion of sediment-associated viruses from the proposed long sea outfall in to the Lyne deep from Rossall point on the Fylde coast to shell fisheries in Morecambe bay and adjoining coastlines.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Based on the design characteristics of the proposed outfall, the location of the shellfisheries and experience with viral-related shellfish contamination elsewhere, the Ministry does not expect sediment transport of viruses to present a problem. To demonstrate that no problem occurs the Ministry have recommended to North West water authority that, if the outfall is constructed, monitoring of the microbiological quality of relevant shellfish stocks be undertaken before and after discharge commences.