---

Water Directives

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the costs in each of the next five years to the water companies of the proposed revision to European Union directives on (a) bathing water and (b) drinking water; and if he will take steps to ensure that these costs are not passed on to customers. [10202]

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The capital cost of implementing the European Commission's proposals for a revision of the bathing water and drinking water directives in the UK has been estimated to be in the range of £1.6 billion to £4.2 billion and £2.2 billion to £3.5 billion respectively, with the majority of the expenditure in the case of the proposed drinking water directive being spread over 15 years from its adoption. Estimates for the next five years would depend on the precise terms of what is adopted and when.

The effect of new quality obligations on customers' bills is a matter for the director general of Water Services in regulating charges. Under section 2 (2) (b) of the Water Industry Act 1991 the director general has a duty to ensure that companies can finance their functions. When new quality obligations are placed on companies, the director general will need to make sufficient allowance in price limits for companies to comply.

Housing (Newcastle)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many houses were (a) started, (b) under construction and (c) completed in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the half-years commencing in April and October from 1993 to 1996; [10290]

(2) how many houses were completed in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1 January 1988 to the latest available quarter. [10291]

15 Jan 1997 : Column: 249

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The table shows figures as reported to the Department by Newcastle upon Tyne borough council and the National House Building Council.

Housebuilding: all dwellings: Newcastle on Tyne

	Number of dwellings
	Started	Under construction at end of period	Completed
1988
Q1	165	470	98
Q2	241	647	64
Q3	80	636	91
Q4	208	686	158
1989
Q1	115	709	92
Q2	142	762	89
Q3	224	870	116
Q4	85	805	150
1990
Q1	90	713	182
Q2	103	696	120
Q3	95	653	138
Q4	119	672	100
1991
Q1	51	658	65
Q2	70	654	74
Q3	80	726	8
Q4	100	734	92
1992
Q1	33	711	56
Q2	152	591	272
Q3	155	725	21
Q4	122	590	257
1993
Q1	138	637	91
Q2	165	578	224
Q3	85	596	67
Q4	138	642	92
1994
Q1	136	716	62
Q2	185	683	218
Q3	166	707	142
Q4	91	700	98
1995
Q1	102	614	188
Q2	78	542	150
Q3	41	393	190
Q4	36	267	162
1996
Q1	65	251	81
Q2	68	244	75
Q3	35	198	81

Anglian Water (Pollution)

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (i) the location, (ii) the number of fish killed and (iii) the loss of amenity value for each category 1 and category 2 pollution incident caused by Anglian Water in 1995-96. [10199]

15 Jan 1997 : Column: 250

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 13 January 1997]: Details of category 1 and 2 water pollution incidents attributed by the Environment Agency to sewers, pumping stations, water treatment works or sewage treatment works operated by Anglian Water Services Ltd. in 1995 are available in the Libraries of the House. Pollution incident data for 1996 is still being compiled. Information on any loss of amenity value is not recorded.

Water Company Returns

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the items in the water companies' July returns to Office of Water Services which are not being made publicly available. [10203]

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 13 January 1997]: A list of the information excluded from the July returns public documentation is given in appendix B of Ofwat's "A guide to the 1996 July returns for the water industry in England and Wales", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Pollution Incident Categories

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the National River Authority's and the Environment Agency's definitions of pollution incident categories for categories 1, 2, 3 and 4. [10198]

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The Environment Agency's definition of pollution incidents is as follows:

Category 1
A major incident involving one or more of the following:
(a) potential or actual persistent effect on water quality or aquatic life;
(b) closure of potable water; industrial or agricultural abstraction necessary;
(c) extensive fish kill;
(d) excessive breaches of consent conditions;
(e) instigation of extensive remedial measures;
(f) significant adverse effect on amenity value;
(g) significant adverse effect on site of conservation importance.
Category 2
A significant incident which involves one or more of the following:
(a) notification of abstractor necessary;
(b) significant fish kill;
(c) readily observable effect on invertebrate life;
(d) water unfit for stock watering;
(e) bed of watercourse contaminated;
(f) amenity value to downstream users reduced by odour or appearance.
Category 3
A minor incident resulting in localised environmental impact only. Some of the following may apply:
(a) notification of abstractors not necessary;
(b) fish kill of fewer than 10 fish (species of no particular importance to the affected water);
(c) no readily observable effect on invertebrate life;
(d) water not unfit for stock watering;

15 Jan 1997 : Column: 251

(e) bed of watercourse only locally contaminated;
(f) minimal environmental impact and amenity value only marginally affected.
Category 4
A reported pollution incident which on investigation proves to be unsubstantiated in that no evidence can be found of a pollution incident having occurred.

Water Pressure

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many households the water pressure in the communication pipe fell below 7m static head for more than one hour on two occasions in any period of 28 days in (a) 1991-92, (b) 1992-93, (c) 1993-94, (d) 1994-95 and (e) 1995-96; and in how many households this occurred more than once in (i) 1991-92, (ii) 1992-93, (iii) 1993-94, (iv) 1994-95 and (v) 1995-96. [10201]

Mr. Clappison [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information requested is not available. Information on inadequate water pressure for the years 1991-92 to 1995-96, measured against the Director General of Water Services' service indicator, DG2, is available for each year for which information is requested in Ofwat's annual "Report on levels of service for the water industry in England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library. DG2 uses a reference level of 10m static head with a flow of 9 litres per minute to measure the adequacy of pressure. This should be sufficient to fill a one gallon--4.5 litre--container in 30 seconds from a ground floor kitchen tap.

Minke Whales

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the Norwegian Government expressing the United Kingdom's opposition to Norway's draft proposal to downlist the north-east and central Atlantic minke whales at the next convention on international trade in endangered species meeting. [10465]

Mr. Clappison: The position of the UK and other EU member states in such matters requires a collective decision. Following a letter to Norway from the then Irish Presidency, my Department wrote to the Norwegian Government last month confirming that the UK would oppose the transfer of any species of cetaceans to appendix II of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora while the moratorium on commercial whaling agreed by the International Whaling Commission remains.

Endangered Species (Import and Export Act 1976)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what special training and qualifications in the identification of threatened animals and plants are required for those persons responsible for policing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976; [10412]

(2) how many successful prosecutions have been brought under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976. [10411]

15 Jan 1997 : Column: 252

Mr. Clappison: The Act originally implemented the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora in the UK. In 1984 it was largely superseded by EC legislation, which implemented the convention throughout the Community.

There is no comprehensive record of convictions for CITES offences. However, we are aware that since 1990, 40 successful cases have been brought under the CITES enforcement regulations, 13 people have been successfully prosecuted under Customs legislation and a further six people have been prosecuted under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.

Training is primarily a matter for the enforcement authorities. HM Customs and Excise include CITES in their basic training and the police advise their forces that wildlife issues should be included in their initial training. Customs officers at ports and airports have access to comprehensive written guidance on CITES and the species it covers. Each of the 14 Customs zones has designated a CITES liaison and intelligence officer, and every police force now has at least one designated police wildlife liaison officer. These officers are a source of information and advice.

Both Customs and the police can call upon experts for assistance in species identification and other specialist matters, including from my Department's wildlife inspectorate, non-governmental organisations and universities.

---