§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual cost of water treatment to remove pollutants derived from agricultural activity from(a) United Kingdom waterways and (b) United Kingdom drinking water supplies; and if he will make a statement. [32289]
§ Mr. ClappisonI have been asked to reply.
Government policy is to take measures to reduce the risk of pollution from agricultural sources. Some costs are incurred in dealing with pollutants arising from agricultural activity but information is not collected centrally. Water suppliers in the United Kingdom have spent around £150 million per annum between 1990–91 and 1994–95 on treatment to remove pesticides and nitrates from drinking water supplies.