§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce amending legislation to allow individuals and local authorities to prosecute as a criminal offence the pollution 165W of rivers, reservoirs, etc., rather than treat matter as a civil offence as at present.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsIt is already a criminal offence to cause or knowingly permit to enter a river any poisonous, noxious of polluting matter.
Statutory water undertakers and river authorities have power to make bye-laws for protecting against pollution any surface or underground water belonging to them or which they are authorised to take. Infringement of the bye-laws will normally be an offence.