§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which are the specific objective criteria used when assessing the quality of rivers as (i) good and (ii) fair.
§ Mr. HowardThe national freshwater quality classification scheme ranks water in four main categories, the highest two being good (class 1) and fair (class 2) quality.
The specific criteria used in determining river quality class in England and Wales are given in appendix 1 to the report of the 1985 river quality survey of England and Wales.
In Scotland, slightly different criteria are used. Details are given in appendix A to the report of the 1985 water quality survey of Scotland.
Copies of both reports are available in the Library of the House.