§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the measures taken designed to improve water quality on the beaches of Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesDwr Cymru—Welsh Water—is currently engaged in a £230 million investment programme designed to ensure that all bathing waters in Wales identified under the European bathing water directive consistently meet its mandatory bacteriological standards. There has been a major improvement in the quality of the bathing waters on the Welsh coastline and last year 84 per cent. of identified waters met the standards, compared with 48 per cent. in 1986. The majority of the improvement programme is expected to be completed by 1995, with the remainder due to be completed by the end of 1997.