§ 23. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to get local authorities to do their utmost to reduce to the minimum the increased risks of pollution of rivers and water supplies due to wartime activities and the reduction of vigilance in consequence of smaller staffs?
§ Mr. ElliotI believe that local authorities will do their utmost in present circumstances to reduce these risks to the minimum. I am unwilling at the moment to add to their heavy burdens of correspondence by special instructions on the point.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishIs my right hon. Friend aware that hundreds of thousands of citizens are dependent upon clean rivers for their peaceful piscatorial pursuits; and will he make a special and generous effort to prevent the sort of pollution which took place in the last war and during the 20 years of peace?
§ Mr. ElliotAs I say, I think the local authorities are alive to these considerations, and I am afraid I cannot send further circulars to the local authorities just now when their correspondence is so heavy.