HC Deb 10 July 1991 vol 194 c382W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that all environmentally sensitive discharges with numeric limits should include absolute limits that may not be exceeded at any time.

Mr. Trippier

Last year the National Rivers Authority issued for public consultation its reviews of the discharge consent system. This covered a wide range of issues relating to consent setting and compliance, including the use of absolute limits. The NRA is currently considering the comments it has received.

Ms. Gordon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases there have been of unauthorised discharges into the River Lea, Limehouse Cut, Hertford Union canal and Regents canal in the last 10 years, giving details of the source of the discharge and the quantities involved.

Mr. Baldry

Information on unauthorised discharges since 1989 is held by the National Rivers Authority, Thames region.

No information is available for the years prior to 1989.