To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what beaches in Europe outside the United Kingdom are subject to legal proceedings for failing to meet the bathing water directives; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Commission is pursuing legal proceedings against all member states except Portugal in respect of directive 76/160/EEC.The Commission has powers under the EC treaty to take proceedings against individual member states which it considers are not complying with their obligations under the treaty. It is for the Commission to decide when to commence such legal proceedings.