HL Deb 13 May 1964 vol 258 cc231-3

2.42 p.m.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect a Report from the Interdepartmental Committee on the dumping of rubbish in the countryside; and whether such a Report will be published.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD HASTINGS)

My Lords, I assume that the noble Lord has in mind the Working Party on refuse collection, which I mentioned in my reply to his Question about bulky refuse on January 23. I do not yet know when the Working Party expect to report, but in view of the ground they have to cover they are not likely to complete their task before next year. The Report will be published.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his frank reply, which I think the country generally will regard as extremely unsatisfactory. Would he remind the civil servants that while Whitehall talks, the evil grows daily?

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My Lords, do Her Majesty's Government realise, to take one facet of the situation, that there are over 50 dead motor-cars stripped and up-ended along and behind the Watford By-pass, and can they give a lead to local authorities to have them removed forthwith? Further, would Her Majesty's Government not agree that these refuse dumps along our highways are a disgrace to the councils concerned and to the country as a whole?

LORD HASTINGS

My Lords, I would refer the noble Earl to my exhaustive reply to the debate on an Unstarred Question on January 23. We are going to issue a circular of advice in respect of the collection of motor-cars when consultations, which are now going on with local authorities, the L.C.C. and the scrap metal and car dismantlers trade, art complete. To turn to the supplementary of the noble Lord, Lord Hawke, I would remind him that questionnaires were sent out to local authorities at the end of January. They have now been returned, but a great deal of statistical analysis has to be gone through and the matter thoroughly sifted. There has been no unnecessary delay at all in this matter.

THE EARL OF SWINTON

My Lords, if the Government are so assiduous in towing away live motor-cars, can they not possibly devote some attention to towing away dead motor-cars?

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, in desperation, private enterprise in some places is beginning to clear up the mess and that one beauty spot in Sussex has been cleared up by co-operation between the local authority, who lent a lorry, and a private individual, who produced schoolboy labour?

LORD HASTINGS

My Lords, I am aware of that and applaud it. My right honourable friend is always encouraging local authorities to co-operate with the Keep Britain Tidy group, who have just staged an anti-litter exhibition. I hope that the noble Lord may be interested in that. Otherwise, I can only apologise for giving him such a dusty answer.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, can the noble Lord say when he hopes there will be results from sending to local authorities the circular to which he referred in his earlier answer? Is he aware that the situation referred to by the noble Earl, Lord Arran, exists all over the countryside? In Kent there are orchards now covered with fruit blossom and the ground beneath is a mass of old cars. May I have an answer about the circular and when it is coming into effect?

LORD HASTINGS

The noble Lord wants to know precisely when it will be issued?

LORD STONHAM

Yes.

LORD HASTINGS

My Lords, I cannot say. Consultations are going on, and they will not take very much longer. It will be fairly soon.