§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps are being taken by his Department and the relevant authorities to stop the mishandling of clinical waste from London hospitals which has led to the pollution of beaches in the Thames estuary;
(2) when he hopes to introduce proposals to amend the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to enforce proper disposal of clinical waste from hospitals; and when he expects the working party to report on interim measures to control the pollution of beaches in the Thames estuary by clinical waste from London hospitals.
§ Mr. Giles ShawResponsibility for the proper handling of hospital wastes lies with the health authorities and the relevant local authorities. To assist health authorities, the Department of Health and Social Security and HSE issued a code of guidance for the disposal of clinical waste in June. My hon. Friend the Minister for 207W Health has personally asked the chairmen of the four Thames regional health authorities to ensure that waste segregation and disposal arrangements in their hospitals are kept properly observed.
I am also concerned at these matters and my Department is represented on the Working Party on the disposal of clinical wastes in London, which is now at work. The group has been meeting weekly to tackle these problems and report on future developments. One of the first priorities has been to avoid the use of the River Thames for transporting general hospital wastes. The working party's interim report is expected to be sent to Ministers and interested parties on 8 December.
We are currently reviewing with the Local Authority Associations the costs of implementing sections 12–14 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Implementation of these sections and the attendant regulations under section 30(4), will enable the classification of clinical wastes to be clarified for the purposes of the collection arrangements. The review will be completed as quickly as possible.