§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what step the Welsh Office has taken to improve the standards of Welsh beaches; how much funding has been given to projects designed to improve the quality of Welsh beaches; and if he will make a statement. [39090]
§ Mr. HagueSince privatisation of the water industry in 1989, water undertakers have been engaged in a programme of improvements to coastal discharges designed to achieve compliance with the mandatory standards of the EC bathing water directive (76/160/EEC) at all identified bathing waters. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water's programme of improvements approved in 1989 and costing over £200 million should be completed in 1997.
In the five years to the year 2000 the company will invest a total of some £600 million on improvements to discharges affecting coastal waters. Together with the chairmen of the Wales tourist board and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, I launched the green sea initiative on 1 May. The objective of the collaborative environmental initiative, which is unique to Wales, is to achieve the more stringent guideline standards under the bathing water directive around the coast of Wales and to aim for 50 blue flag beaches by the year 2000.
§ Mr. CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many beaches in Wales failed to meet EU standards in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [39089]
§ Mr. HagueThe numbers of bathing waters in Wales identified under EC directive 76/160/EEC which passed and failed to meet the directive's mandatory bacteriological standards since 1990 are as follows:
Year Number passing EC mandatory standards Number failing to meet EC mandatory standards 1990 35 15 1991 45 5 1992 39 11 1993 42 8 1994 38 12 1995 49 6