§ 1987. Mr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bathing waters in England and Wales met European Community standards in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c)
§ Mr. MoynihanIn December 1979, the Government identified 27 bathing waters in England and Wales under the terms of the EC bathing water directive (76/160/EEC); 18 of these met the mandatory standards for coliform parameters in the directive. This continued to be the position until 1986 when an extended survey of 354 bathing waters in England and Wales was carried out. The Government announced early in 1987 that these waters would be included within the scope of the bathing water directive. In 1987, 197 out of 360 identified waters in England and Wales (55 per cent.) met EC standards. In each year compliance has been assessed on the basis that at least 95 per cent. of the samples met the mandatory standards.