§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement about the National Rivers Authority's 1990 river quality survey;
(2) if he will make a statement about statutory water quality objectives.
§ Mr. TrippierI am pleased to say that the National Rivers Authority has today published its report of the 1990 river quality survey. The NRA has also published today a consultation paper setting out proposals for introducing statutory water quality objectives under sections 82 and 83 of the Water Resources Act 1991. I am placing copies of the documents in the Library of both Houses.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the action taken by his Department in respect of British manufacturing interests following the announcement by European Community Commissioner Bangemann to the European Parliament on 14 March 1991 that a mandate had been given to draw up 300 standards relating to the water sector; and what guidance he intends to give to local authorities and water companies about the implication of this programme for public procurement compliance.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 10 December 1991]: The European Commission gave a mandate in 1988 to the European standards organisation—CEN—to create a work programme in the field of water supply, drainage and sewerage. In 1990 CEN forwarded a programme to the Commission covering some 300 standards for the water cycle. The commission gave CEN an additional mandate in this field earlier this year and a second work programme is now under examination by the Commission.
The DOE's interest in the standardisation programme relates to the quality of drinking water, the effect of sewage effluent on the environment and ensuring the interests of the British construction industry are taken into account. The interests of British manufacturers are a matter for my 432W right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Co-ordination of manufacturers' and users' interests is effected through the British Standards Institute, which appoints representatives to the relevant CEN technical committees and working groups.
We have issued general guidance to local authorities about the public procurement directives, and we shall issue further guidance shortly about the statutory instruments formally implementing the first batch of these directives. Guidance will be given to water companies when the utilities directives are similarly implemented.