§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)On behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. J. G. WEIR), I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, having regard to the fact that the "water of the River Nethy, in the Badenoch district of Inverness-shire, has been rendered unfit for drinking purposes by the discharge of sewage from several lodges and large farms above the village of Causer within the last 20 years, he will state why the Local Government Board for Scotland have failed to require the local authority to take action against those who are responsible for the pollution of the water of the river; whether he is aware that the local authority has taken action to compel the villagers, who for years have been dependent on the River Nethy for drinking water, to supply the village with water from another source a mile distant; and whether the Local Government Board for Scotland will require the local authority to take steps to free the water of the River Nethy from pollution?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireThe Local Government Board have frequently had under consideration the question of the water supply of the village of Causer. They have urged the local authority to take steps to provide a proper supply, and the local authority have taken proceedings against the inhabitants with this object. The Local Government Board have not required the local authority to take steps to have the river freed from pollution, as the Board have no power to do so. Moreover, it is not certain that the river can be made a suitable source of supply.