§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce statutory water quality objectives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published a consultation paper on river quality. This sets out the Government's proposals for safeguarding our rivers, including the introduction of statutory water quality objectives (WQOs) gradually from 1993, and initially for a limited number of objectives in order to test the new system. The paper proposes a new classification scheme as the framework within which individual WQOs would be set; and a revised basis for carrying out the regular overall assessments of river quality. The proposals are based on recommendations published by the National Rivers Authority in October, following wide consultation. I am grateful for the authority's work which underpins our proposals.
Our strategy builds on the major programmes of water investment which are already planned or under way and takes account of the implications for consumers. We have set out proposals for maintaining river quality, for reversing recent deteriorations, and for targeting further resources on those improvements which can be achieved most quickly and cost-effectively. This represents a firm foundation for introducing WQOs.
As discussed in "Using Water Wisely" last July and "This Common Inheritance: the Second Year Report" in October, I am developing proposals for water pollution charging which I believe can play a role as an alternative to further regulatory action as a way of achieving WQOs.
I have placed copies of our paper in the Library of the House.