§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the maximum levels of(a) mercury and (b) lead allowed in sewage sludge to be dumped at sea.
§ Mr. CurryCurrent United Kingdom licences for disposal of sewage sludge to sea set a maximum total annual input of 2.7 tonnes of mercury and 248 tonnes of lead.
The quantities of these metals entering the North sea in sewage sludge dumping is only about 1 per cent, of the total inputs of these metals to the North sea, most of which result from river discharges from continental countries, atmospheric inputs and disposals of dredged spoil.