§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what date he supplied the European Commission with a list of less-sensitive areas and copies of studies of them carried out in respect of such areas under article six of the urban waste directive;
(2) what plans he has to request an extension of time from the European Commission in respect of listing and forwarding copies of studies of less-sensitive areas under article six of the urban waste water directive;
(3) when he submitted to the European Commission proposals under article 8(5) of the urban waste water directive listing the areas subject to the proposals and the basis of those proposals;
(4) what information he has provided to the European Commission on its implementation programme as required by article 17(2) of the urban waste water directive indicating the outline and nature of the information provided; and what extension of time for providing the information was requested.
§ Mr. AtkinsA list of the less-sensitive areas—known as high natural dispersion areas in the United Kingdom—identified under the directive was sent to the European Commission on 24 May 1994. Under the terms of the directive, comprehensive studies must be carried out following identification of the areas, before a discharge consent can be given for a minimum of primary treatment. The studies will be carried out in time for relevant discharge consents to be given for the discharges concerned before the end of the years 2000 or 2005, whichever of the directive's implementation dates applies to each affected discharge. The question of applying for an extension of time does not arise.
Where relevant, proposals for applying article 8(5) of the directive will be made to the Commission after comprehensive studies have been completed and before the relevant implementation deadline. Such proposals will be made only where it can be demonstrated that no environmental benefit will accrue from the provision of a higher level of treatment than the requirements of article 6(2).
Information required by article 17(2) of the directive was provided to the Commission on 25 November 1994 without application for an extension of time for its provision. The information given was that required by the Commission decision of 28 July 1993–93/481/EEC; OJ No L 226, 28.7.1993, p.23. A copy of the "Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive—UK Article 17 Report" has been placed in the Library of the House.