River Purification Boards

HC Deb 20 December 1955 vol 547 c1836

35. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Scotland Act, 1951, has now been fully implemented.

Mr. J. Stuart

River purification boards have been established for eight out of the ten areas recommended by the Broun Lindsay Committee covering all the rivers south of the Caledonian Canal with the exception of the Tay group and the North and South Esk. The provisions of the Act have also been applied to the counties of Caithness, Orkney, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Zetland.

Mr. Rankin

Is the Secretary of State aware that this has been a very slow process indeed? Can he do something to expedite the formation of the two remaining river boards, particularly in view of the fact that one of them governs the Forth where, while we are waiting, valuable fishings in Scotland are being slowly destroyed?

Mr. Stuart

We certainly desire to get on with this as soon as we can, but it takes a little time to organise these bodies.