§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will make regulations formally to transpose into UK legislation the EC directives concerning the quality required of shellfish waters and the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life. [1295]
§ Angela EagleI have been asked to reply.
Regulations concerned with the quality of waters for fresh water fish and for shellfish in England and Wales were laid in Parliament today. Together with Directions issued to the Environment Agency, they will replace the non-legislative mechanisms by which the requirements of the Freshwater Fish Directive and the Shellfish Waters Directive have been implemented since the early 1980s. The Directives prescribe certain mandatory minimum water quality requirements.
170WThe new instruments follow consultations with interested parties in October 1995 and January 1997. The existing arrangements for protection of waters will continue in place. However, the Regulations are the first step in a process to initiate a review of implementation policy. The Department will consult further on aspects of implementation, including the designation of relevant waters.