§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct Wessex Water to extend the proposed 900 m sewage outfall being built adjacent to Royal Portbury dock to the full 2 km length; and if he will make a statement on what length outfall is appropriate in coastal waters such as the Bristol channel.
§ Mr. HowardBefore granting a discharge consent for any new sea outfall scheme, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution must be satisfied that the scheme will enable bathing waters in the vicinity to meet the standards of the EEC bathing water directive. The length of the outfall required to achieve this objective will depend on local478W childhood immunisation schedule and on future developments. We shall consider the JCVI's views when they are available.