§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the results of the survey of bathing water quality made in 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe results of the monitoring carried out by river purification boards in 1989 showed that 16 of the 23 identified Scottish waters met the mandatory standards for coliform bacteria set by the European Community bathing water directive, as compared with 12 in the 1988 bathing season.
While this improvement is encouraging, the effects of the better weather in 1989 are likely to have been a factor in the results. In the longer term, progress will be founded on the capital works programme for which my right hon. and learned Friend announced increased provision in December 1989, with the specific objective of enabling water authorities to accelerate their spending on water and sewerage projects, and in particular to meet the target of compliance with the directive's standards at 95 per cent. of bathing waters by the mid-1990s and full compliance within 10 years.
The 1989 results for Scotland are set out in the table. A more detailed summary of the results is being placed in the Library, and the results will also be made known to the Commission of the European Communities.
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Result Nairn (East beach) Pass Cullen Pass Fraserburgh Pass Aberdeen Pass Montrose Pass Arbroath Fail Carnoustie Fail St. Andrew's (West Sands) Pass Kinghorn (Pettycur) Pass Aberdour (Silversands) Pass Gullane Pass North Berwick (Milsey Bay) Pass Yelowcraigs Pass Dunbar (Belhaven) Pass Pease Bay Pass Sandyhills Pass
Result Girvan Pass Turnberry Fail Ayr (South beach) Fail Prestwick Fail Troon (South beach) Pass Irvine-Gailes (New Town) Fail Saltcoats/Ardrossan (South beach) Fail