§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to improve the marine environment of the Irish Sea as it affects the Welsh coast line. [33528]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsLevels of pollution in the Irish Sea are being investigated in a Quality Status Report being prepared under the auspices of the Oslo and Paris Commissions. A Regional Task Force is overseeing the Report's preparation: its membership is made up of experts from the Irish and UK Governments, including from the Welsh Office.
At the same time, action is in hand to tackle many of the sources of marine pollution. We are currently reviewing the National Contingency Plan for pollution from shipping and offshore installations which sets out the arrangements for dealing with pollution arising from spillages of oil and other hazardous substances into the marine environment. Whilst radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea are already at levels which cause minimal harm to the environment, we are reducing them still further. We have also said that we want to move toward the target of the cessation of discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances. The dumping of sewage sludge at sea is being phased out—Dwr Cymru Welsh Water stopped using this disposal route several years ago. Dwr Cymru is also introducing full treatment at all its coastal sewage discharges.