§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he is making of thermal pollution in British bays and estuaries.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe Central Electricity Generating Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other bodies, studies the subject, both in the laboratory264W and in the field. The Water Pollution Research Laboratory is assisting in this work and had previously made a detailed study of heated discharges to the tidal Thames. River authorities determine the conditions, including maximum temperature, on which new discharges may be made into estuaries and require to be satisfied that they will have no unacceptable effects.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the work of the Royal Commission on Environment Pollution established in the autumn of 1969 has progressed; and what preliminary steps have been taken to frame policies for enhancing the quality of the environment.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe work of the Commission has been gathering momentum since February when the members were appointed and held their first meeting: we look forward to its first report, which I understand it hopes to publish early in the new year. The first step in framing our policies for improving the quality for the environment has been to establish the Department of the Environment, which will include the Central Unit for Pollution Control.