§ 14. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to sanction the payment by local authorities of contributions towards the expenses of the Bristol Channel Pollution Advisory Council, in view of the circular which he sent to all local authorities urging them to set up advisory committees with the object of bringing about improvement in the condition of water supplies?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARELocal authorities have no powers of contributing to the expenses of a body such as that mentioned by the hon. Member. The provisions of the Local Authorities (Expenses) Act, 1887, which enable my right hon. Friend in special circumstances to 1124 sanction expenditure, are not appropriate to the case.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs it not the case that the hon. Gentleman's own Department circularised local authorities advising them to set up these committees, and, as the committees have been set up, is it not fair that they should be paid?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The committees which we advised should be set up are the committees dealing with supplies of water. The question he puts concerns sea water, fish and fishermen.
§ Mr. GRENFELLBut there is a definite circular from the hon. Gentleman's Department urging that committees should be set up to deal with this question of pollution.
§ 15. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to exercise the power conferred on him by the Land Drainage Act, 1920, of establishing joint committees for preventing pollution of rivers; and, in particular, whether he will take action in respect of one or more catchment areas in South Wales where some of the rivers are heavily polluted?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend has not received any application from any county council or county borough council for the appointment of a joint committee in South Wales. He is prepared to consider any representations which may be made to him for the appointment of such a committee.