HC Deb 28 March 1973 vol 853 cc1290-1
16. Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what area of land is estimated to be occupied by dumped toxic wastes in England and Wales.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

It would not be possible to discover all the sites on which toxic or other wastes have been dumped in the past. My Department has initiated a review of all the sites in the country on which wastes are currently being tipped; the review is being carried out by all the refuse disposal authorities in England and Wales, with the help of river authorities and the Institute of Geological Sciences. The review is not yet complete, and I should like to take this opportunity of asking all those authorities which have not yet taken the action necessary to do so.

Mr. John

I thank the Minister for that reply. I am sure that he will emphasise to local authorities that it is necessary to have good quality information if we are to improve the environment. Is it not high time that, following from that, the Government provided a positive code for the dumping of such wastes, to back up the negative Poisonous Wastes Act?

Mr. Griffiths

I do not agree that the Poisonous Wastes Act is entirely negative, but I accept the need for positive guidance. The aspect of the matter that arises in the hon. Member's constituency is being examined closely.