HC Deb 07 March 1989 vol 148 cc477-8W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish in theOfficial Report details of the total lengths of Welsh rivers in each of the water authorities classifications 1 to 4 for each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Grist

River quality surveys are carried out once every five years. Over the last 10 years, therefore, figures are available only for 1980 and 1985, and these are set out in the table. The next survey is expected in 1990.

Classification Lengths kilometres
1980 1985
1A 2,573 2,418
1B 1,237 1,377
2 506 523
3 301 256
4 12 26

It should be noted that exact comparison of these figures is not possible, as the lengths of rivers included in successive surveys has altered.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in theOfficial Report the number of recorded incidents of river pollution, the number of related prosecutions and the number of convictions in Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Grist

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 26 May 1988. I have asked the chairman of the Welsh water authority to write to the hon. Gentleman in respect of the remainder of the last 10 years.