HC Deb 26 July 1990 vol 177 cc387-9W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has had any discussions with Yorkshire Water about pollution of the River Aire in Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

It is for the National Rivers Authority, as the body primarily responsible for the control of water pollution, to pursue local issues with dischargers, including, where appropriate, water and sewerage undertakers.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requirements exist in respect of the fitting of non-return valves to household equipment so as to prevent pollution from water syphoning back into the mains supply.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Water byelaws are in force throughout the United Kingdom that require household equipment to be fitted with non-return valves or other no less effective devices to prevent the pollution of water from water syphoning back into mains supply.

Mr. David Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to fully implement the recommendations of the 1981 Commission on Energy and the Environment regarding ferruginous discharges into rivers and streams.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Following the commission's recommendations, discharges of waste water from active mine workings—including ferruginous discharges—were brought within the pollution control system for the first time upon implementation by this Goverment of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The relevant provisions have been substantially re-enacted in the Water Act 1989.

Discharges from abandoned mine workings do however present particular difficulties, as the commission recognised. The ownership of many such workings is unknown and cannot be traced. The National Rivers Authority has been considering the extent of these problems in England and Wales and we shall be discussing further with the authority how they might best be tackled.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, on 19 JulyOfficial Report, column 725, how many authorisations (a) were granted and (b) were in force for discharges of radioactive waste to the public sewer in 1989 in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Greater London and (iv) East Sussex.

Mr. Trippier

I refer the hon. Member to the Department's "List of Premises in England and Wales currently authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This lists the authorisations in force at April 1988. The detailed information requested by the hon. Member can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the National Rivers Authority's review of discharge consents and compliance assessment will be made public.

Mr. Trippier

The National Rivers Authority has today published its review of the discharge consent system. The aim of the review is to ensure that the system serves to protect water quality and is effective in enabling pollution control standards to be enforced. I therefore welcome the review as a major and important contribution in this difficult and technical area. It will help to provide a sound basis for the authority's future work in securing lasting improvements in the water environment.

The National Rivers Authority has published its review in order that interested parties should have the opportunity to comment on the proposals, before decisions are taken about implementation. I look forward to hearing from the authority what conclusions it draws in the light of the comments it receives.