Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 December 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 December 1997. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 11 December 1997 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress he has made towards implementing European Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources; and if he will comment on the establishment of draft action programmes.

Answer: Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made towards implementing European Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources; and if he will make a statement on the establishment of draft action programmes. [19667] Angela Eagle: The Government have implemented all of the Directive's requirements, except the establishment of action programmes. We expect to issue draft action programme regulations for consultation before the end of 1997, with the aim of laying them before Parliament early in 1998. The Government are currently finalising the detailed assessment of the monitoring data required by the first review of designations, which forms the next phase of the Directive's implementation. Any changes proposed as a result will be issued for public consultation.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 19667; 302 c630W
Session: 1997-98
EC documents: Dir91/676/EEC
Subjects: Agriculture EU law Pollution Pollution control Water Utilities Nitrates Nitrate vulnerable zones