§ BARONESS EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what attention has been given to the report of the Advisory Council on Public Sanitation, and what steps, if any, are being taken to remedy the lack of hygiene and amenities reported by the Advisory Council.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (LORD MITCHISON)My Lords, I assume that the noble Baroness is referring to a Press statement issued by the Advisory Council in January about a scatter survey of sanitary facilities which they have carried out. A copy was not sent to the Government, but the Council made representations to the Ministries of Transport and of Housing and Local Government about the need for public lavatories on main roads. The Government have since announced that they are willing to share with the local authorities and county councils the cost of a pilot scheme to provide lavatories on lengths of trunk road in four counties. These proposals, which it is hoped will provide a useful guidance in dealing with the problem on a wider scale, are being considered by the local authorities.
§ BARONESS EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I think everyone is grateful to the Minister for the statement he has made that this matter is receiving some attention. I understand that the 174 pilot scheme is in the South of England and nothing is being done in the North, and I think people are anxious that there should be a pilot scheme in the North as well. Furthermore, I wonder whether something can be done to draw the attention of school teachers to this Report, because, after all, what is really at the bottom of it is that people's habits are not as good as they should be, and those habits start in school. I feel this is a very important matter. The women's societies in the country are most disturbed about it and I should be grateful if the Minister would consider this suggestion of circulating the Report to the schools.
§ LORD MITCHISONMy Lords, I entirely agree, not only with the comments made by the noble Baroness but with the spirit behind them, if I may put it that way. I think the pilot schemes are already being started and I do not know whether it is possible to include the North of England, but I will bring the matter to the attention of my two right honourable friends, if not the Minister of Education as well, to see what can be done to carry out the suggestion. I noted with particular interest the suggestion with regard to school teaching.
§ BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEYMy Lords, I am grateful.