§ 23. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action is being taken by the Clyde River Purification Board in the matter of the pollution of a tributary of the Clyde at Quothquan, which was referred to the Board by the hon. Member for Lanark last autumn.
§ Mr. NobleThe Board tells me it has been in touch with Lanark County Council and the farmers concerned about means of improving effluents which are causing some localised pollution. I understand that it has written to the hon. Member giving details.
§ Mrs. HartIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is only two days after putting down the Question and after six months of writing to the Board that I got an answer on this question? Is he satisfied that the river purification boards have enough money available for the work which they have to do? Would not it be a good thing if the right hon. Gentleman were to look seriously at the possibility of making a grant to the river boards to enable them to be better staffed and do their job more effectively?
§ Mr. NobleI regret that the board should have taken so long to write to the hon. Lady. It has not been suggested to me that the boards are short of money or that this was the reason for the delay in this case.
§ Mr. RankinIs not it a disgrace that thirteen or fourteen years after the passing of this Act the River Clyde—and 389 possibly other Scottish rivers—is still being fouled by tributaries and that it would appear that the river purification boards are paying little attention to this matter?
§ Mr. NobleI think it true that the problem raised by the hon. Lady is a localised problem. My information is that there is no pollution of the Clyde itself.