To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the nitrate levels were in each of the areas which his Department plans to designate as nitrate vulnerable zones (a) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) (i) five and (ii) 10 years prior to that date. (166780)

[holding answer 29 November 2007]: We are currently consulting on this matter and no decisions have been taken.

There are approximately 7,000 surface water monitoring points in England and Wales used to assess whether waters should be designated as polluted waters in the recent review under the nitrates directive. The information requested would require extensive research to be undertaken and therefore it is not possible to provide it because of the disproportionate costs involved.