HC Deb 29 March 1971 vol 814 c306W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an inquiry into the chemical content of all detergents used in Great Britain to consider the advisability of banning the use of phosphates, because of eutrophication.

Mr. Peter Walker

The Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents already inquire into the chemical content of detergents. They advise that there is at present no justification for banning the use of phosphates in detergents in Great Britain. Substitutes which have been proposed have substantial drawbacks.