HC Deb 12 November 1968 vol 773 cc196-7
20. Mr. van Straubenzee

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now authorise Wokingham Borough Council to incur the necessary expenditure to lay a foul sewer in Sandy Lane and Bearwood Road at Wokingham.

Mr. K. Robinson

Unless there is any new evidence of urgency, I regret that the work must wait until it is possible to relax the restraint on increases in public capital investment.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the papers, particularly with regard to his former Ministry, and notice that the medical officer of health has given a serious warning of health hazard in this case? Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that for that reason, if no other, he ought to look at the matter again?

Mr. Robinson

I have looked at the papers. The report of the medical officer of health six months ago did not seem to indicate any immediate danger to public health, but I repeat that if there is new evidence I shall certainly consider it.