§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which companies have consent to pollute the River Mersey; what pollutants they are empowered to604W discharge and at what levels; and what fines were levied on companies and individuals responsible for polluting the River Mersey over the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 19 March 1990]: The responsibility for issuing consent to discharges of effluent into the River Mersey now rests with the North West region of the National Rivers Authority (NRA). The particulars of discharge consents granted, including details of substances and quantities which may be discharged, are held on the public register maintained by the NRA and available for inspection at the North West regional office, New Town House, Buttermarket street, Warrington.
Enforcement of water pollution controls under the Water Act 1989 is primarily the responsibility of the NRA. I understand that of those cases brought to court since the NRA's establishment on 1 September 1989, the following fine has been imposed for the offence of polluting the River Mersey:
Offender Conviction Date Fine £ Costs £ Shell UK Ltd 22/23 February 1990 1,000,000 6,573.79 (Offence committed under part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.)
The following fines were imposed for cases of water pollution in the Mersey catchment that were brought to court by the former North West water authority, between 6 April 1987 and 31 August 1989:
Offender Conviction date Fine Costs £ £ J. Slack Limited 6 April 1987 800 100 Manro Products Ltd. 19 August 1987 750 255 Joseph Pickavance Ltd. 22 September 1987 200 230 Kooltherm Insulation Products Ltd. 6 October 1987 1,000 250 UML Limited 22 October 1987 1,000 315 Broadclough Finishing Company Limited 18 April 1988 1,000 395 Manchester City Council 12 May 1988 1,500 460 Brian D. Leever (Poplar Truck Stop) 22 June 1988 200 225 Panocean Transport and Storage Ltd. 26 August 1988 1,000 235 John Cooper 10 November 1988 300 100 Alan Kendrick 10 November 1988 200 90 Cheshire County Council 10 November 1988 250 200 Coloroll Limited, Rainshore Mills 11 November 1988 500 — Coloroll Limited, Rainshore Mills 11 November 1988 1,000 345 Wardle Fabrics Ltd. 28 November 1988 250 240 East Lancashire Paper Mill Co. Ltd. 30 November 1988 500 345 East Lancashire Paper Mill Co. Ltd. 30 November 1988 500 — Featley Products Ltd. 2 December 1988 500 220 Toby Restaurants (North) Limited 13 January 1989 1,250 180 Peter Thompson 26 January 1989 600 250 McPherson Polymers Ltd. 30 January 1989 500 350 Brown Brothers (Construction Ltd.) 8 February 1989 1,500 260 Laporte Industries Ltd. 2 March 1989 1,000 197.50 Information about prosecutions prior to 6 April 1987 is not available.