HC Deb 12 March 1918 vol 104 cc159-61
31. General CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board has made any calculation of the annual loss in fertilisers by the London County Council in not making proper use of the London sewage as recommended by the Royal Commission of 1884; and has he any official information showing that the estimate of the loss made out by competent experts is over £500,000 per annum to the London ratepayers and over £1,000,000 in extra food production is incorrect?

The, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)

The Board are aware that estimates of the kind referred to by the hon. and gallant Member have been made, but they are advised that under existing conditions the cost of recovery for use in agriculture of the fertilising materials contained in the sewage of London would exceed their value.

General CROFT

What steps are the Board of Agriculture taking to aid the collection of fertilisers throughout the country?

Sir R. WINFREY

I do not know. The matter has been considered.

General CROFT

Is there not a shortage of fertilisers in the country, and that being so, does not the matter of cost enter into the question, which is one of food production?

32. General CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the London County Council is taking any steps to collect and treat the sewage of London with s, view of providing increased fertilisation to the soil; and, if not, whether he will at once appoint a committee to inquire into the possibility of using the sludge which is at present discharged into the sea?

Sir R. WINFREY

The Board are informed that the London County Council is fully aware of the possibilities of recovering usable products from sewage and that any practicable scheme would receive careful attention. As regards the second part of the question, I will gladly confer with my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board on the subject. I should, however, like to remind the hon. and gallant Member that the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal, which had been sitting for many years, has only suspended its operations since the outbreak of war.