HL Deb 06 June 1996 vol 572 cc143-4WA
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Working Party on the Incidence of Pesticides in Water will publish its report.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)

The Working Party on the Incidence of Pesticides in Water has today published its review on the monitoring of pesticides in water in the United Kingdom. I am placing a copy in the Library.

It concludes that "there is a basically sound system of monitoring and investigation that has emerged out of a long established intention to control pesticides effectively". However, it has identified some gaps in monitoring and it has made some recommendations for improvements.

This report provides a comprehensive summary of the data which are available on pesticides in water. A group, led by the Environment Agency, will be formed to ensure that there is an ongoing review of monitoring requirements and that monitoring efforts are most effectively directed.