§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many offences against section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991 were identified by the Environment Agency for each month of 1996 and 1997 to date; and for the same period how many prosecutions were brought; how many have been successful; and how many are outstanding; and what penalties have been applied. [20647]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 15 December 1997]: This information is not available in the form requested. Of the 20,158 substantial pollution incidents recorded for 1996, which in over 90 per cent. of cases were minor and resulted only in localised environmental impacts, the Environment Agency brought 121 prosecutions under section 85(1). Of these, 117 were successful. One custodial sentence was imposed. The maximum fine was £15,000. A further 111 prosecutions relating to incidents in 1996 have been brought to date in 1997. Of these, 108 were successful. The maximum fine imposed was £15,000. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman about the number of outstanding prosecutions which have been brought by the Agency for offences in 1996 and 1997 under section 85(1).
As regards 1997, data for the number of pollution incidents are not yet available. However, 36 prosecutions have been brought to date for incidents which occurred this year. All were successful. The maximum fine imposed was £7,000.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many discharges to water in excess of permitted limits have been identified by the Environment Agency for each month in 1997 to date; how many prosecutions have resulted; how many have been successful; how many are outstanding; and what penalties have been applied. [20649]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 15 December 1997]: Compliance data are collected quarterly by the Environment Agency. The number of discharges which have exceeded their consented limits in each of the first three quarters of 1997 are as follows:
Numbers January-March 1,447 April-June 1,023 July-September 966 (The second and third quarter totals do not include figures for the Environment Agency's South West region.) Most dischargers, on being notified of a failed sample, take prompt action to remedy matters.
The Agency has brought seven prosecutions under section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 for breaches of consent which have occurred this year. Five were successful. The fines imposed ranged from £750 to £10,000. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with details of the number of outstanding cases where the Agency has brought prosecutions in respect of such offences.
359WFurther to my answer to the hon. Gentleman on 8 December 1997, Official Report, column 422, thirteen prosecutions were taken in 1997 under section 85(6) in respect of breaches of consent which occurred in 1996 in addition to the prosecutions taken in 1996.