§ 77. Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of water pollution incidents in 1988.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe total number of reported water pollution incidents in England and Wales in 1988 was 26,926. This information is published in the annual "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
§ 80. Mr. David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to minimise the input of dangerous substances into the North sea.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryImportant new agreements on the reduction of inputs of dangerous substances into the North sea were reached in early March at the third North sea conference held in The Hague. These include the reduction by 70 per cent., or more if possible, of inputs of several of the most hazardous substances (such as cadmium, mercury, dioxins and lead) by 1995 and the reduction by 50 per cent. or more of air inputs for 17 substances, as well as agreement on a new common list of 36 substances dangerous in the aquatic environment on which reductions are required for all inputs to rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.
These new agreements build on existing reduction timetables set at the second conference hosted by the United Kingdom. Significant progress, as set out in the United Kingdom North sea action plan, has already been made towards reaching the 50 per cent. target for reduction in river inputs by 1995.
I intend to publish a guidance note on implementation of these and other aspects of the third conference declaration within the next two months.