To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they have given to representations by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) that United Kingdom water quality standards will not reach the necessary level by 2015 on current rate of progress. [HL2524]

The WWF has made a number of representations to both Defra and the Environment Agency about the implementation of the water framework directive.

The river basin management plans, which were published on 22 December 2009, set out how we intend to reach our water quality objectives as required by the directive. A key objective within the directive is to aim to achieve good status by 2015. However, this is subject to the consideration of some tests and the use of exemptions.

A summary of the responses to the consultation on the river basin management plans, including representations from the WWF, is available at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd.