§ 61 and 62. Sir COOPER RAWSONasked the Minister of Health (1) whether his attention has been called to the interim report of the cleansing sub-committee of the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee on disposal of refuse; and whether that committee in accordance with its terms of reference enquires into up-to-date systems in operation outside London; and
(2) whether the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee's sub-committee inquiring into the systems for disposal of refuse includes any sanitary engineers or inspectors; and whether his expert advisers confirm the view expressed by the committee that controlled tipping is in general to be preferred to incineration, as opposed to the report of 1932 by the cleansing inspector to the Ministry of Health and more recent reports to the contrary issued by scientists and other authorities?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend is aware of the interim report. He understands that the Committee as a whole confined themselves to inspection of the services of the metropolitan borough councils, but several of the members and a number of officers who advised the Committee had inspected up-to-date systems in operation outside London. The Chairman of the sub-committee is a civil engineer, and in addition, the sub-committee has attached to it, in an advisory capacity, a number of medical officers of health and engineers of metropolitan borough councils. As regards the comparative methods of controlled tipping and incineration, my right hon. Friend is advised that, where controlled tipping can be and is properly carried out, it is a satisfactory method of disposal, but what method is most advantageous for any particular place must depend on local circumstances.
§ Sir C. RAWSONHas the hon. Gentleman taken into consideration the very excellent system adopted by the Brighton Corporation, and has he visited it recently?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI am sure that evidence of that and other excellent systems was put before the Committee.