asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the discharge of effluent into rivers in England and Wales currently conforms to the standards laid down by the water authorities; what the corresponding proportion will be if the recommendations in the National Water Council's document "The Review of Discharge Consent Conditions" are accepted; and how this transformation is to be achieved.
The river pollution survey of England and Wales—updated 1975—showed that some 64·3 per cent. by number and 62 per cent. by volume of sewage effluent discharges, and some 63 per cent. by number and 94 per cent. by volume of industrial effluent discharges, to inland water courses conformed to the conditions of consent laid down by water authorities or their predecessors. These figures must be read with the qualifications described in the survey. As I explained in my letter to the hon. Member of 13th April, the review of discharge consent conditions will lay the foundations for continued improvements in our rivers based on river quality objectives and value for money. There is, of course, no question of any deterioration in present quality being permitted under the review. I cannot say in advance how many discharges will comply with the new consent conditions.