HC Deb 20 April 1866 vol 182 cc1771-2
LORD ROBERT MONTAGU

said, he rose to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether the Government have any intention to introduce a Bill to amend the Public Health Acts, and whether it will contain any Clauses which deal with the pollution of rivers, in accordance with the recent Report of the Commissioners?

MR. H. A. BRUCE

said, in reply, that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill for amending the Public Health Acts very shortly; but it would not deal with the pollution of rivers. The Commissioners only presented their Report on the Thames River a few days ago. The more difficult inquiry into the waters of the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire was not completed, and till it was completed no general measure on the subject would be satisfactorily considered.