HC Deb 21 June 1955 vol 542 cc1118-20
17. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to investigate more efficient and economical treatment of sewage and waste industrial products, for example the possibility of purification by radioactive agencies; and if he will ensure that river purification boards will be kept abreast of results.

Mr. J. N. Browne

Research into questions of water pollution and sewage purification is undertaken by the Water Pollution Research Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The results are published in the Board's annual reports and in technical and scientific journals, and are thus readily available to river purification boards.

18. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that sewage purification authorities in Scotland are fully advised of the possibilities of the recovery of methane gas for heating or lighting purposes as a byproduct of purification; and what developments already exist in Scotland.

Mr. J. N. Browne

These possibilities are fully discussed in a Government Report on the Treatment and Disposal of Sewage Sludge published last year and brought to the notice of technical officers of local authorities likely to be interested. They are kept fully in mind by the Department in the examination of proposals for new sewage purification works. The local authorities at present using methane from the hot digestion of sewage sludge are Lanark County Council and the town councils of Airdrie, Coatbridge, Johnstone, Motherwell and Wishaw, and Renfrew.

Mr. Woodburn

Have steps been taken to get these local authorities who are now considering, under the new dispensation, improving their sewage disposal, to visit places in Scotland where this is taking place, and even to see the more modern institutions in Germany, where a whole town is lit by gas from this source?

Mr. Browne

In reply to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, the answer is that we are doing everything we can. As to the second part, we are aware of the Ruhr experiment where methane gas is being mixed with the town lighting gas, and being used for general lighting and heating purposes. This has been examined in Scotland—in Lanarkshire and in Airdrie Burgh—but we feel that the German practice is not an economic proposition for this country.