§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether current levels of pollution are within current EC standards in the Fal estuary, Cornwall.
§ Mr. BaldryI have been asked to reply.
The relevant EC standards are environmental quality objectives (EQOs) for mercury and cadmium. Compliance with EQOs is demonstrated by reference to annual averages. Although higher than normal concentrations of these substances have recently been recorded in parts of the Fal estuary it is not possible to say whether there has yet been a breach of the EQO.