§ 62. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking consequent upon the escape of contents of a 1,000-gallon oil tank from a printing works at Worcester into the River Severn, causing an oil slick to drift upstream towards Upton-upon-Severn, threatening drinking water supplies, farming interests, angling interests, impregnation of water birds and pleasure craft and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
Action in such an emergency falls on the River Authority. I am satisfied that the Severn River Authority quickly took appropriate action to contain and remove the pollution, to protect drinking water intakes downstream and other interests.
I understand that, apart from some residual pollution of the banks of the river, the river itself was virtually cleared of oil by Monday morning.