§ 25. Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his Department's experimental programme at the Davyhulme sewage works.
§ Mr. OakesMy Department is supporting two small research projects at Davyhulme. The first, into the use of pure oxygen in the activated sludge process of sewage treatment, is nearing completion. The second, into the physicochemical treatment of sewage, for which plant is being installed, is expected to 1256 start in the autumn and will continue for several years.
§ Mr. ChurchillCan the hon. Gentleman say what assistance the Government are willing to give Greater Manchester and the regional water authority to mitigate the intolerable levels of smell to which my constituents are subjected from the sewage works, and what research his Department is sponsoring into more efficient and acceptable means of disposing of this waste, in particular for recapturing some of the methane gas and making use of it for energy purposes?
§ Mr. OakesAlthough the House treated with some mirth what the hon. Gentleman said, I can assure the House that it is not a matter for mirth to the hon. Gentleman's constituents, who have to suffer living near the sewage works. As far as we can ascertain, it is not the research projects which are responsible for the smell. Some emanation of smell is inevitable from a sewage works. I am satisfied that Manchester has done all it can to mitigate this situation. It will now be a matter for the regional water authority, and I hope it takes effective measures to reduce any effects of nuisance from this work.