§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tonnes per annum of(a) nitrates, (b) phosphates, (c) cadmium, (d) zinc, (e) lead, (f) copper, (g) mercury and (h) liquid low level radioactive wastes in each case from United Kingdom sources are discharged or dumped into the North sea.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryRecent information on United Kingdom inputs of contaminants to the North sea via rivers, coastal discharges and dumping from ships is included in the 1990 interim report on the quality status of the North sea prepared for the third North sea conference in the Hague on 7 and 8 March. I am placing a copy in the Library together with the ministerial declaration and the 3W implementation report on the action taken by North sea states since the London conference to reduce these discharges still further.
Some of the figures quoted in the interim quality status report have been compiled using differing methodologies, particularly in the case of river inputs and are, therefore, not directly comparable.