HC Deb 11 July 1973 vol 859 cc1496-7
1. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the interests of pollution control, he will call a conference of the responsible authorities to co-ordinate efforts to clear the Thames of driftwood.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)

Keeping the Thames free of driftwood is a matter for the responsible authorities. I have no evidence to suggest that there is any lack of co-ordination but I should be glad to draw the attention of the responsible authorities to any specific evidence the hon. Member may have.

Mr. Jenkins

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that reply. I shall give him some evidence which I hope he will draw to the attention of the responsible authority, because driftwood in the Thames is getting worse and worse. It is a danger to all forms of boating, whether it be rowing, sailing, or any other boating activity, and it is high time that a co-ordinated effort was made to deal with the problem. The problem is certainly not being satisfactorily dealt with at the moment. I should be grateful if the hon. Gentleman would go further than he did in his answer and take an active initiative in bringing together the appropriate bodies to find a solution to the problem and help with the necessary money to deal with the situation.

Mr. Griffiths

I cannot give any undertaking on the last point because the responsibility clearly is with the statutory authorities. About 6,000 tons of driftwood is collected and cleared each year from the Thames, and it would be a great deal less if the public and those who go out in boats on the Thames were to give up the nasty habit of chucking driftwood and debris into the river.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Can my hon. Friend say whether any of the driftwood represents planks of the London Labour Party's election programmes of 1964 and 1967 which first advocated the building of the London motor box?

Mr. Griffiths

I shall need notice of that question.

Mr. Spearing

Will the Under-Secretary of State withdraw his aspersion on those who use boats on the river, implying that they are responsible for throwing in driftwood? Will he make inquiries of the Port of London Authority, which is supposed to be responsible for these matters, but in fact is not very responsible, to see that the authority provides a sufficient number of rubbish barges for cargo vessels to tip waste from their holds over the side, instead of its being dumped in the river clandestinely at night?

Mr. Griffiths

I cannot accept any of the criticisms made by the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Spearing) of the PLA, which collects and disperses 6,000 tons——

Mr. Spearing

That is what the PLA says.

Mr. Griffiths

—of driftwood and debris from the river each year.