§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the scientific studies funded by his Department which link United kingdom coastal erosion with chemical contamination of Danish beaches. [15938]
§ Mr. AtkinsNo studies funded by the Department show any link between United Kingdom coastal erosion604W and contamination of Danish beaches. German, Dutch and Danish coastal waters receive large inputs from the major continental rivers such as the Rhine and the Elbe. Danish agriculture is a substantial source of nutrients in their waters. Inputs are kept close to the coast by poor mixing with waters well out to sea, leading to problems such as eutrophication.
The 1989 "North Sea Satellite Colour Atlas", published with data and financial contributions from the Department and the Natural Environment Research Council, showed a natural plume of sediment material from the Norfolk coast. The poor mixing of continental waters with those offshore prevents material from the UK reaching Danish coastal waters; there is, therefore, no link between this material and problems in Danish waters.