§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those rivers in England where prosecutions have been undertaken because of pollution;338W who were the polluters; what fines were levied; and what remedial measures were ordered in each case to prevent a recurrence of the pollution.
§ Mr. BaldryThis information is not held centrally. The National Rivers Authority is responsible for enforcing water pollution controls, and is empowered to carry out operations to prevent or remedy pollution where appropriate.
I understand that the authority brought a total of 370 prosecutions for water pollution offences in England and Wales during its first year of operation to 31 August 1990.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards control of the dumping of rubbish and other pollutants from private boats in estuaries and inshore waters.
§ Mr. BaldryUnder the provisions of the 1989 Water Act it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit the entry of polluting or solid waste matter to "controlled waters", (which include estuaries and inshore waters), although the discharge of trade or sewage effluent from a vessel is excluded from these controls. The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) Regulations 1988, which extend to private boats, impose restrictions on the disposal of garbage, defined as all kinds of victual, domestic and operational waste, into the sea. The Merchant Shipping (Reception Facilities for Garbage) Regulations 1988 require every harbour authority in the United Kingdom to provide facilities for receiving garbage from ships.