To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on water quality at English beaches and the Blue Flag scheme. (241059)

The Secretary of State has not held any discussions with EU counterparts in the last year about the quality of bathing waters in England.

The Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC, as revised by 2006/7/EC) sets water quality standards for bathing waters. The Blue Flag scheme is an independent award, administered in England by ENCAMS, which has water quality as only one of its criteria.