§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the level of tidal movements in Torbay; and if he will now categorise the bay as less sensitive under the urban waste water directive.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Secretary of State asked the National Rivers Authority to make recommendations as to those areas which might be identified as high natural dispersion areas—less sensitive areas under the urban waste water treatment directive—in England and Wales. The authority has made its recommendations on the basis of agreed criteria and, in so doing, it has been for it to make whatever assessments of tidal movements may be relevant.
The Secretary of State will announce the areas to be identified as high natural dispersion areas shortly.