HC Deb 28 June 1955 vol 543 c177
15. Mr. Dodds

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made in the experiments at the Stevenage research station into the reaction of fish to various types of detergent washing powders.

Mr. Bevins

There is no doubt that detergent washing powders can poison fish. Experiments are continuing to find out whether they are toxic at very low concentrations and under the conditions likely to be present in British rivers.

Mr. Dodds

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether any of the detergents are favourable to the fish?

Mr. Bevins

So far as I know, none of the detergents is favourable to the fish. I think this is a case where we cannot please everyone; the housewives like the detergents when they are strong but the fish dislike them.

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