§ 4. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of using the sewage of Scotland for fertilising the soil, taking into consideration the cost of artificial fertilising material, and the shortage of natural manure.
§ Mr. T. FraserI regret that no figures of cost of the kind desired by the hon. and gallant Gentleman are available.
§ Sir T. MooreWhy not? Surely the hon. Gentleman must be aware that after the initial capital cost this process would do more to stimulate the productivity of our soil than any other method, without any drain on our dollar reserves and without any outside assistance?
§ Mr. FraserThe possibilities of land improvement by the utilisation of sewage sludge are not at all certain. The Agricultural Research Council which has been undertaking a review of sewage sludge compost has been doing a good deal of work on this question, but it is impossible to give the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.