HC Deb 22 February 1995 vol 255 cc198-9W
Mr. Butterfill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Department's study into the costs of implementing the European Commission's proposed revision of the bathing water directive has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

The consultants' cost study commissioned by the Department has now been completed. It shows the estimated costs of meeting the standards in the Commission's proposed revision of the bathing water directive and a number of other possible outcomes of the forthcoming negotiations. Any such expenditure would be in addition to the estimated costs of implementing the existing bathing water and the urban waste water treatment directives.

Discussion of the Commission's proposal in the Community is still at the initial stages and the United Kingdom's cost study should help to inform future negotiations.

Copies of the cost study will be placed in the House Libraries.

Site Type Location Pollutant 1992 1993 1994
Automatic monitoring Bridge Place, Westminster ozone 11 ppb 11 ppb 13 ppb
nitrogen dioxide 39 ppb 34 ppb 35 ppb
carbon monoxide 1.0 ppm 0.9 ppm 0.8 ppm
sulphur dioxide 9 ppb 8 ppb 6 ppb
Non-automatic nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane nitrogen dioxide 29 ppb
North Westminster Community School, North Wharf Road nitrogen dioxide 26 ppb 26 ppb
33 Belgrave Gardens nitrogen dioxide 17 ppb 21 ppb
Drury Lane nitrogen dioxide 24 ppb
Non-automatic smoke and sulphur dioxide monitoring* Public Mortuary, Horseferry Road sulphur dioxide 17 ug/m3 23 ug/m3
smoke 13 ug/m3 13 ug/m3
* Monitoring undertaken in co-operation with local authorities.