HC Deb 18 March 1996 vol 274 c6W
Sir Cranley Onslow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the past 12 months towards the development of statutory water quality objectives for rivers in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20730]

Mr. Gummer

The National Rivers Authority has drawn up proposals for statutory water quality objectives in seven catchments in England and one in Wales which have been chosen to test the use of these powers on a pilot basis. Consultation on these proposals will begin shortly.