§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent investigations have been carried out by his inspectors to ensure that a sewage sludge vessel operated out of Newport docks by a Greek company under contract to the Welsh water authority discharges its cargo of toxic metals in the licensed area prescribed.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithOn behalf of the Secretary of State for Wales, our inspector visited the Greek vessel concerned on 24 October 1979, 20 February 1980 and 29 May 1980. He was satisfied that the terms of the licences issued under the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 had been met and that dumping had taken place in the prescribed area.
Samples were taken of the material to be dumped on the occasion of the 24 October 1979 and 20 February 1980 visits, and the results of the analyses of that material have shown that they consisted of sewage sludge and that the material, including its metal content, was satisfactory for sea-dumping.