§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask for an investigation by the National Rivers Authority, following the refusal of Dutch harbour authorities to allow a ship to empty ballast water taken aboard from the River Humber because of high levels of pollution identified in the water content.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 18 June 1991]: The National Rivers Authority carries out extensive and regular monitoring of the Humber estuary's water and sediment which shows that in general the estuary meets European environmental quality standards on heavy metals. I have, however, brought the hon. Member's concern to the attention of the authority and have asked it to respond to him direct.