HC Deb 26 November 1957 vol 578 cc958-60
2. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the danger to health arising from the contamination of the sea and rivers where bathing takes place by the discharge of untreated sewage, what consideration is being given to the matter with the object of producing a national programme to deal with the menace.

Mr. Bevins

It is for the local authorities concerned to provide a remedy where these problems exist locally. While my, right hon. Friend is sure that they are well aware of their responsibilities, and while he cannot be taken as accepting all the implications in the Question, he is keeping in close touch with the position.

Mr. Dodds

Does not the Minister appreciate that, in view of the evidence available, it is about time the Government took some notice of this matter and got rid of the patchwork conditions? Is not this a disgrace to a country which prides itself on its high standard of hygiene, and will not the hon. Gentleman give some consideration to making it essential that regular samples of sea water are taken, analysed and the results translated into laymen's language and placed beside the sunshine and rainfall records on the promenades of our seaside resorts so that people can know something about them?

Mr. Bevins

It is very easy to exaggerate the dangers to health that exist, but I should like to emphasise that the present restrictions on capital expenditure do not apply where there is evidence of injury to health.

Dr. Bennett

Does my hon. Friend know that fifteen years ago two Americans, named Paul and Trask, isolated poliomyelitis virus from diluted sewage, in great dilution, and were able to prove that it is conveyed one-eighth of a mile and even had strong reason to believe that it could be conveyed several miles? In view of the almost overwhelming presumptive evidence that there is a spreading of this disease by this means, would my hon. Friend ask his officials not to increase the already strong tendency to inertia among some local authorities on our coasts by advising that there is no risk worth bothering about?

Mr. Bevins

While I am not prepared to accept as gospel what my hon. Friend says about the danger to health, I would point out that since the end of the war schemes to the value of about £200 million have been approved, and all but £30 million have been approved since 1950.

9. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps are being taken to recommend action and to give permission for expenditure to local authorities where the present sewer outfalls are such as to allow the discharge of sewage along the coast.

Mr. Bevins

It is for the local authorities concerned to provide a remedy if nuisance is caused by the discharge of sewage. My right hon. Friend does not think that they require any special advice from him. Despite the stringent restrictions on capital expenditure, he is always prepared to consider sympathetically an application for loan sanction for a scheme which can be shown to be essential to prevent nuisance.

Mrs. Slater

Does not the hon. Member realise that that sort of answer gets us nowhere? Does he realise that 40 per cent. of the sea outfalls are inadequate and discharge sewage into the sea which forms a visible nuisance? Does he realise that this kind of thing is disgusting in the twentieth century and that the Ministry's own Chief Medical Officer of Health reported adversely on it in 1946?

Mr. Nabarro

The supplementary question is too long.

Mrs. Slater

Does not the Minister realise that thousands of people from Kidderminster and other industrial areas have to go to these seaside places not only for holidays but for health reasons? When does the Minister intend to do something of a much more dramatic nature?

Mr. Bevins

I have no desire whatever to underrate the importance of this problem, but since the end of the war at least 100 schemes to improve either outfalls or the treatment of sewage have been approved by respective Ministers of Housing and Local Government. If the hon. Lady has any particular case in mind we will very gladly look at it and do what we can.