§ MR. LYON PLAYFAIRasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he intends, next Session, to deal with the recommendations of the Royal Commission and the Select Committee of the House of Lords in regard to the pollution of rivers?
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHSir, the Rivers Pollution Commission was appointed in the year 1865, and was reconstituted in 1868. During the time that has thus elapsed they have presented five interesting and valuable Reports. A sixth and final Report is, I am told, in print, and will shortly be presented. Meanwhile, proposals for legislation on the subject were submitted to the House of Commons in 1872, and withdrawn; and a Bill was introduced into the House of Lords last year, referred to a Select Committee, and afterwards withdrawn. So soon as the final Report is in my hands, I propose to have the recommendations of the Commissioners embodied in a shape fit for legislation, so that the Government may come to a determination during the Recess whether or not it shall be submitted to Parliament next Session.