§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that at present 1,000 tons of sewage sludge are discharged between Maplin Light, Knob Buoy, and Long Sand, daily; that this quantity will shortly be increased to 4,000 tons; and whether the Department will protect the town of Southend against this dangerous nuisance?
§ * THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. LONG,) Wilts, DevizesThe Local Government Board have no information as to the amount of sewage sludge at present discharged between the points referred to; bat they are informed by the London County Council that there is no immediate prospect of the daily discharge of such a quantity as that mentioned in the question. The Board have no power to intervene with a view to the protection of Southend in this matter, but they understand that the County Council have referred the subject of the treatment and disposal of the sewage to Sir Benjamin Baker and the Chief Engineer of the Council, whose Report is expected at an early date.