§ 1. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the additional pollution of the Solent which will be created by the Wainsford relief sewerage scheme.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Guy Barnett)No, Sir. My right hon. Friend will be considering the Southern Water Authority's statutory submission for consent to discharge related to the Wainsford scheme. This is expected shortly, and I cannot anticipate the outcome.
§ Mr. AdleyThe scheme itself is welcome, but does the Minister agree that if it goes ahead at present it will result in the discharge of considerable extra sewage into the Solent? Is it not about time that when sewerage scheme are approved they should include full treatment of the sewage and not allow it still to be pumped into our rivers, estuaries and seas?
§ Mr. BarnettThe hon. Gentleman's point will be noted, but it would be quite wrong for me, as I said in my original answer, to anticipate the outcome, first, of the submission and, secondly, of my right hon. Friend's reply to it.