§ Mr. CongdonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of coastal discharge of sewage are given(a) no treatment, (b) preliminary and (c) secondary treatment; [28675]
(2) what steps are being taken to achieve those provisions of the urban waste water treatment directive requiring all towns, whether or not with a population greater than 10,000 to apply secondary treatment before discharge. [28676]
§ Mr. AtkinsSome 96 per cent. of the UK population is connected to a sewerage system. Eighty per cent. of sewage is treated and 90 per cent. of this receives secondary treatment or better. The proportions, already high in comparison with those in many continental countries, will rise as a result of investment over the next few years in particular the implementation of the urban waste water treatment directive. More detailed 139W information on the proportion of the UK's population receiving different levels of sewage treatment and the programmes for implementing the directive are contained in the report produced by the UK under article 17 of the directive, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.