§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what time204W scale he has set for achieving the guide values in the Bathing Water, Shellfish Waters, Surface Water Abstraction and Freshwater Fish Directives; [100340]
(2) if the guide value contained in the Bathing Water Directive, the Shellfish Waters Directive, the Surface Water Abstraction Directive and the Freshwater Fish Directive are mandatory standards; and what directions he has given to the Environment Agency on enforcing them; [100401]
(3) what plans he has to enforce the guide values contained in the Bathing Water, Shellfish Waters, Surface Water Abstraction and Freshwater Fish Directives; and if he will make a statement. [100342]
§ Mr. MullinThe EC Directives on Bathing Waters, Shellfish Waters, Surface Water Abstraction and Freshwater Fish set guide values which are not mandatory values and which member states must endeavour to observe, in the case of the first two instruments, or respect, in the case of the remaining two. The obligations of each Directive, including on guide values, have been incorporated in the transposing legislation which places duties on the Environment Agency. The Government expect to see progress towards the guide values which have been set.