§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the results of consultation on the implementation of the nitrate vulnerable zones directive; [46782]
(2) what level of designation of nitrate vulnerable zones is (a) required by European directive and (b) proposed to be implemented in the UK; [46783]
(3) what assessment she has made of the ways in which other EU countries are implementing the nitrate vulnerable zones directive. [46781]
§ Mr. MeacherThe nitrates directive requires that measures to control nitrate pollution are either applied throughout England or in areas draining into polluted waters and waters at risk of pollution. Details of these options were published on 20 December 2000 in a consultation document "How should England implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive."
We are currently considering the responses to the consultation before deciding whether to implement either option 1 (the whole of England approach) or option 2 (discrete NVZ approach). We will publish an analysis of the consultation responses when we announce our decision on how we intend to implement the directive.
Six other member states have implemented the directive by applying control measures throughout their territory. A seventh, the Republic of Ireland, is also considering this option. A number of other member states are reviewing the extent of the areas that they have designated under the directive, with a view to designating additional areas.