HC Deb 10 March 1992 vol 205 cc461-2W
Mr. Bill Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish a report on drinking water quality in Scotland in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

A report has been published today by the Scottish Office Environment Department giving a national overview of drinking water quality in Scotland in the period 1 July to 31 December 1990, the first six months of monitoring under the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library. The report shows that the overall level of compliance with the quality standards was high, some 97 per cent. of all analytical results having met the requirements. For 48 of the 55 numerical standards in the regulations, 99.6 per cent. of all analytical results complied. The failures to meet quality standards fully did not represent a risk to public health.