§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield, Ecclesall)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, although an expenditure of many thousands of pounds has been incurred by the town council of South-end-on-Sea in defending their action of discharging crude sewage into the estuary of the Thames in defiance of all constituted authorities, and moreover of violating the principle laid down so emphatically by the Commissioners on Sewage Disposal, the town council has been served with another writ by the owner of the Hadleigh Ray oyster beds; and whether, seeing that in the recent action in the High Courts judgment was given against the corporation, involving some,£8,000 damages and costs, ho will bring in a Bill, in accordance with the recommendations of the Commissioners on Sewage Disposal, to prevent the pollution of rivers and estuaries by all local authorities.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have not received any information as to the further writ referred to. I am afraid that I cannot hold out any expectation that I could introduce a Bill during the present session on the subject mentioned in the last part of the Question.