HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc573-4W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many coastal or estuarial sewage discharges under construction or planned include treatment to reduce or eliminate viral content;

(2) how many sewage discharges receive treatment to reduce or eliminate viruses; and what percentage that represents of the total coastal discharges.

offices by 40 per cent., warehouses by 37 per cent., factories by 27 per cent., and other properties by 21 per cent.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will produce a table in the same form as provided to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher) on 1 November 1994,Official Report, columns 1005–6, showing the increase in rate bills for properties in Nottinghamshire between 1994–95 and 1995–96 as a result of the 1995 revaluation, in the absence of transitional relief.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

Estimates for Nottinghamshire based on the draft 1995 rating lists are shown in the table. I have also given the change in bills once transitional relief has been taken into account.

Mr. Atkins

Sewage treatment which is at primary level or above will reduce the levels of viruses in discharges. The current and planned levels of treatment for sewage discharges into coastal and estuarial discharges under the urban waste water treatment directive are set out in the United Kingdom's report under article 17 A copy of this is in the Library of the House.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department into the health impacts of viruses in sea and river water.

Mr. Atkins

The Government funded an extensive four year research programme into the health effects of sea-bathing, which was published in January 1994.

Copies of the full report have been placed in the Library.

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