§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the most recent figures are for water quality on the Lancashire beaches that are regularly tested. [88652]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 7 January 2003]: I announced on 11 November the best ever bathing water quality results in England and the North West, with all the Lancashire beaches passing the Directive's main mandatory standards in the 2002 season. Details of the weekly results of the sample testing for individual bathing waters are available on the Environment Agency's internet site at www.environment-agency.gov.uk (then follow "What's in your backyard?"). In addition, my Department will be placing in the Library early in the new year our annual publication "Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) Detailed Summary of Survey Results—United Kingdom" This lists all identified bathing waters and the results of micro-biological and physico-chemical sample testing.