§ Q6. Mr. Stonehouse asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an additional Minister in the Department of the Environment particularly to deal with the problems of pollution in the West Midlands.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 25th April to a Question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter).—[Vol. 835, c. 1271–2.]
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the Prime Minister aware that industrial pollution in the West Midlands is the worst in the United Kingdom and that there is widespread disgust in the West Midlands that the area is low on the list of priorities in the Department of the Environment? Now that there are Labour-controlled councils in the West Midlands, such as Birmingham, West Bromwich and Walsall—
§ Mr. FauldsAnd Warley!
§ Mr. Stonehouse—Yes, who are anxious to get on with the job of clearing up the environment, will the Prime Minister strengthen the Department of the Environment so that those councils can be given more help?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman's accusation that industrial pollution has low priority in the Department of the Environment is completely unfounded. It is true that the practical action which the Department of the Environment asks should be taken is in fact taken by a variety of local authorities, not only Government authorities but river boards, and so on. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has made it plain that he believes that there is no longer any justification for holding back smoke control in the Midlands; and major capital investment programmes for sewerage have been approved. This is not a low priority, and a large part of the resources available is being used for it.
§ Mr. JenningsIs my right hon. Friend aware that what is needed is not an additional Minister—of whom there are plenty in the Department—but additional work on the River Tame area to prevent the wholesale pollution of the River Trent? A lot has been done, but will the Prime Minister try to persuade his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to concentrate further on the cleansing of the filthy River Tame?
§ The Prime MinisterSince its inception in 1966, the Upper Tame Main Drainage Authority has spent £15 million on capital works. During the five-year period from 1971–72 to 1975–76, for which the Government have made allocation, the Authority is spending another £22 million on this problem. Nobody can say that it has a low priority when in these years about £37 million will be spent by the Upper Tame Main Drainage Authority.