HC Deb 25 July 1990 vol 177 cc351-2W
36. Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the quality of designated bathing waters.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

We maintain a dialogue with the Commission on this topic.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will transpose the requirements of designation and compliance of 76/160/EEC bathing water directive to United Kingdom law.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

We are at present discussing with the water industry a draft of regulations to be made under the Water Act 1989 to bring the requirements of directive 76/160/EEC explicitly within the scope of United Kingdom law.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce a sampling and analysis system to be used by the National Rivers Authority for its monitoring responsibilities in bathing water.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The Secretary of State has appointed the National Rivers Authority as the competent authority for implementing directive 76/160/EEC. It is for the National Rivers Authority to determine the appropriate sampling and analysis procedures consistent with the directive.

73. Mr. Conway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of United Kingdom bathing waters complies with the European Community directive; and what the figure was in 1979.

83. Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many United Kingdom bathing waters complied with the European Community bathing waters directive(a) in 1979 and (b) at the current time; and what percentage of total designated waters this represents.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

In 1979, 18 of the 27 identified bathing waters complied with the directive's mandatory coliform standards; this is 67 per cent. For 1989, 336 of the 440 identified bathing waters complied with the directive's mandatory coliform standards; this is 76 per cent.