§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to improve water quality levels on Scottish designated bathing beaches.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 24 May 1990]: Of the 23 identified bathing waters in Scotland, 16 met the standards for total and faecal coliforms set in the EC bathing waters directive in 1989. Where failure is caused by discharges from public sewers, it is for regional councils to plan and execute improvement works in line with the requirements of the river purification boards. Improvement schemes are included in the regional councils' capital expenditure programmes. Further measures will be necessary to implement the decision, announced to the House of Commons by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 5 March, Official Report, column 452, that all significant discharges of sewage will require to receive treatment.