§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the results of this year's bathing water quality monitoring; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoThe monitoring carried out during the 1993 season shows that 80 per cent. of the 457 identified bathing waters in the United Kingdom met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC bathing water directive. This compares with 79 per cent. in 1992 and 76 per cent. in 1991.
Rain influences results, but in spite of poor weather in many places during the bathing season this year overall compliance has improved.
This slow but steady increase is a satisfying indication that the works being undertaken to improve bathing water quality are having the desired effect. Some waters which invariably failed in previous seasons are now up to standard.
The main results for the United Kingdom are summarised with details for English and Welsh bathing waters. This information will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today and will be supplemented by a report with more detailed results in due course.
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Bathing waters survey 1993 results for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC): Coliform Standards) Pass Fail Total 1993 1992 1993 1992 1993 1992 England and Wales NRA Regions Northumbrian1 25 20 9 14 34 34 Yorkshire1 21 20 1 2 22 22 Anglian 28 31 5 2 33 33 Thames 3 3 0 0 3 3 Southern 58 51 9 16 67 67 Wessex1 35 36 7 3 42 39 South West1 107 117 26 17 133 134 North West 13 I1 20 22 33 33 Welsh 42 39 9 12 51 51 Total 332 328 86 88 418 416
Pass Fail Total 1993 1992 1993 1992 1993 1992 Scotland 18 15 5 8 23 23 Northern Ireland 15 15 1 1 16 16 Grand Total 365 358 92 97 457 455 1 Northumbrian and Yorkshire, and South West and Wessex NRA regions have amalgamated, but results are recorded separately here for the purposes of comparison.