HC Deb 12 December 1994 vol 251 cc521-3W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of implementing nitrate-vulnerable zones in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Jack

Farmers in nitrate-vulnerable zones will be affected in different ways, depending on such factors as the type of enterprise, stocking density and existing storage capacity for organic manure-for example, arable farmers who are already following good agricultural practice should incur no significant cost as a result of the rules which will apply in vulnerable zones. Some intensive livestock units may, however, incur costs through having to transport manure off farm, and provide additional storage during the closed period for the application of organic manure. Costs are being examined and a compliance cost assessment will be issued when the detailed draft action programme of measures is published in 1995.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of nitrate pollution in the River Stour in Essex and Suffolk; and what information he has about the state of the River Rhine in Germany.

Mr. Jack

Figures for nitrate pollution in the River Stour taken at Langham-the abstraction point used for drinking water purposes-for the 1992 calendar year are set out:

1992 Nitrate mg/l
06 January 30.88
08 January 33.05
20 January 49.17
28 January 41.64
03 February 48.73
05 February 47.40
17 February 38.36
25 February 36.77
02 March 33.36
04 March 34.38
16 March 32.69
24 March 31.81
30 March 77.08
01 April 88.60
14 April 27.60
28 April 33.05
05 May 27.55
12 May 25.03
18 May 18.03
27 May 17.01
01 June 15.24
03 June 15.24
15 June 17.19
23 June 14.00
29 June 5.89
08 July 12.36
13 July 11.03
21 July 17.81
27 July 13.51
05 August 13.29
10 August 13.07
18 August 16.57
24 August 9.88
09 September 14.09
14 September 14.57
22 September 19.71
28 September 44.30
07 October 45.19
12 October 42.00
20 October 32.29
27 October 55.38
04 November 47.84
09 November 40.71
17 November 57.15
23 November 54.93
02 December 62.02
07 December 58.03
15 December 61.58

With the Stour exceeding the nitrate parameter of 50 mg/litre eight times out of the 48 samples taken at the abstraction point, the river is considered a polluted water under the terms of the EC nitrate directive and the Nayland nitrate vulnerable zone has been proposed on this basis. We have no detailed information of the nitrate pollution in the River Rhine. However, Germany is expected to designate its entire territory as a nitrate vulnerable zone.