To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect all inland, coastal and estuary waters to meet the ecological standard set by the European Union Water Framework Directive (2000/60 EC) by 2015. [HL2522]

The Secretary of State approved the river basin management plans for England and Wales for publication on 22 December 2009. The plans set out the actions needed to meet the requirements of the water framework directive. The current plans will ensure that 33 per cent of all water bodies achieve good ecological status by 2015. The Environment Agency and other co-deliverers are investigating the use of alternative objectives in planning for cycles 2 and 3 of the river basin management plans to ensure that the water framework directive objectives are achieved by 2027.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the criteria by which the Environment Agency will allow exceptions if some waters do not reach the ecological standard set by the European Union Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) by 2015. [HL2523]

The criteria for the Environment Agency to allow exceptions to the water framework directive standards were set out in guidance from Defra.

The water framework directive sets out default objectives which apply unless it is permissible to deviate from them. Annexe 6 summarises these default objectives and the water bodies to which they apply. Article 4 of the water framework directive also sets out specific ways in which, in certain circumstances, member states may deviate from achieving the default objectives (eg good status by 2015). Objectives that are different from default objectives are referred to in this guidance as alternative objectives.

The types of alternative objective are an extended deadline; a less stringent objective; different objectives for heavily modified or artificial water bodies; or different objectives where there are new modifications and new sustainable development activities.