HC Deb 07 November 1991 vol 198 c197W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to ensure that current river stretches in Wales found to be of bad quality are improved; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The 1985 river quality survey indicated that only 0.6 per cent.—about 17 miles—of rivers in the National Rivers Authority Welsh region's area were placed in class 4—bad quality. The investment programmes agreed with Dwr Cymru; recent initiatives such as those to reduce pollution from farms; and the planned setting of statutory water quality objectives under the Water Act 1989 will result in further improvements to river quality.