HC Deb 08 March 1989 vol 148 cc526-7W
Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish details of the number of sewage works which breached their discharge consents in 1988.

Mr. Ridley

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: The latest year for which detailed figures on non-compliance of sewage treatment works are available is 1987, in which 887 works out of 4,238 tested (21 per cent.) were in breach of their consents. This compares with 23 per cent. failing their consent conditions in 1986.

The figures for 1988 are not yet available, but indications are that they will show a further improvement.

Water authorities have drawn up capital programmes, at a total cost of between £900 million and £1 billion, with the aim of bringing sub-standard works into full compliance with discharge consents in 1992.