§ Mr. Conlanasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of septic tanks and/or cesspools in use in England; how many dwellings they serve; and how the figures compare with those for Scotland and Wales, respectively.
270W
§ Mr. GreenwoodA septic tank or a cesspool, if properly constructed and maintained and of adequate size, provides a satisfactory method of sewage disposal in suitable circumstances, and is likely to continue to be the only economic method of draining many houses in areas of scattered development. There has not therefore seemed any point hitherto in collecting information about the numbers in use. But if my hon. Friend will let me know what purpose he has in mind, I shall be glad to consider whether it would be practicable and worth while to try to get information of this kind from a future housing survey.