To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the classification of bathing water between 2016 and 2020 under the criteria outlined in Article 5(4) of Directive 2006/7/EC; and if he will make a statement. (168231)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 November 2007, Official Report, column 30W.

Since we expect that all designated bathing waters will achieve the ‘sufficient’ classification under the revised Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC, by the end of the 2015 bathing season, we do not intend to make use of Article 5(4) of the directive.