Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what specific steps have been taken since the summer of 1965 to improve the position with regard to the oil pollution of beaches and the discharge of sewage into coastal waters in time for the summer season of 1966.
§ Mr. MacCollEnforcement of the law on prevention of oil pollution in navigable waters is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I understand that since last summer his officers have intensified their enforcement measures and have appealed to shipping and aircraft authorities to help in the detection of offences.
In order that a study may be made of the best means of dealing with oil pollution once it has occurred, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, has arranged for consultation between the local authority associations and the Institute of Petroleum.
Six schemes, estimated to cost in total over £2.5 million, for improving sewage disposal in coastal areas have been submitted by local authorities since August, 1965.