HC Deb 08 July 1977 vol 934 cc695-6W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what tests he has had on the bodies of 100 birds found on a rubbish tip at Great Welnetham, Suffolk; what was the cause of death; and what consultation he has had with the local authority and the Anglian Water Authority to ensure that toxic materials are not dumped at this site and that polluting material is not percolating into local water supplies.

Mr. Denis Howell

Tests on some of the 50 birds found dead on this site have established that they were poisoned, but the poison has not so far been identified. Further tests are still in progress. The site is used by the county council only for domestic and inert industrial waste; its use for toxic wastes is not permitted, although pesticides and rodenticides are used for pest control.

The Anglian Water Authority is confident that there is no danger of pollution to local water supplies, but is carrying out a full chemical analysis of water samples from the aquifer lying below the site.

I shall write to the hon. Member when full results of the tests are known.