§ MR. MORTON (Sutherland)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the estuary of the River Thames is being polluted by the discharge of crude sewage from the towns of Sheerness, Southend, and Whitstable; and whether he will communicate with the authorities of those towns urging upon them the importance, in the interest of public health, of adopting some system of sewage purification without further delay.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaI am aware of the discharge of crude sewage into tidal waters in the cases mentioned in the Question. As regards Whitstable the Local Government Board wrote to the district council on the subject last year, who contended that in the circumstances of their district they would not be justified in incurring the expenditure necessary for carrying out works for the treatment of the sewage. I will communicate with the town councils of Sheerness and Southend, but as respects Southend, it is fair to say that the alleged pollution has recently been the subject of judicial decision, and I understand that it is possible that the case may be carried to a higher court.
AN HON. MEMBERWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake not to take further steps until the matter has been finally adjudicated on in the Law Courts?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI will give that question sympathetic consideration.