HC Deb 23 January 1997 vol 288 cc675-6W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the impact of the Government's requirement of cost neutrality for water quality standards in future EU bathing water directives; and if he will compare the standard produced by this formula with that indicated as necessary by his Department's bathing water epidemiological studies. [10864]

Mr. Clappison

The Government have expressed no requirement for cost neutrality in any revision of the EU bathing water directive but seek to ensure that standards are based on sound science. Departments' bathing water epidemiological studies indicate that the current directive standards give adequate protection to health and do not support the introduction of more stringent standards.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what numerical level of mandatory standard for faecal streptococcus bacteria the Government are prepared to agree to in the revised EU bathing water directive. [10863]

Mr. Clappison

In the light of the Government's epidemiological studies, we consider that the standard for faecal streptococci in any revision of the EU bathing water directive should be broadly equivalent in protective effect to the mandatory standards for coliform bacteria in the existing directive. Our current best estimates are that this would be in the region of 1,000 to 1,200 faecal streptococci per 100ml.