To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the beaches designated as bathing beaches for the purposes of European Union legislation on pollution in (a) 1987, (b) 1992 and (c) 1997. 
There were 374,455 and 486 UK bathing waters identified within the scope of the Bathing Water Directive in 1987, 1992 and 1997 respectively. Lists are provided in the detailed summary of monitoring results which is placed in the Library each year. The summary for the 1997 season will be available early in the New Year.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data he has collated on the level of pollution on beaches not designated as bathing beaches. 
The Environment Agency collect information on a site-specific basis in connection with their wider responsibilities for water pollution control. The information is available on the Agency's Regional Water Pollution Registers.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what new steps are being taken to improve the quality of water at beaches in England and Wales. 
In July this year, the Government endorsed Environment Agency proposals for new standards to protect bathing waters. Under the new policy, sewage treatment plants with outfalls near bathing waters will have to meet higher design standards that will contribute to more beaches meeting Bathing Water Directive "guideline" standards for cleanliness. Improvements will also result from completion of the remaining schemes in the bathing water improvement programme and implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Priorities for additional investment by water companies on environmental improvements, including improved bathing water quality, will be considered next year as part of the current periodic review of water prices.