75. Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made by the Committee to investigate the pollution of our coastal waters by oil; whether he is aware of the renewed fouling of Southsea beach in recent weeks, and the steady flow of oily effluent from the mud-creek immediately north-west of the Fawley oil jetty, an effluent which throughout the week-end of the Royal Naval Review was sufficient to cover the whole breadth of Southampton Water with a film of oil of considerably more than molecular thickness; and whether he will refer these cases to the committee.
§ 86. Mr. R. Robinsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he has now received a report from his Committee on the prevention of pollution of the sea by oil; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have now received the Committee's report. It is being printed and will be published as soon as possible. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Committee for the time and thought they have devoted to the examination of this troublesome problem. I know that there has been some pollution at the places to which my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport and Fareham refers, though I am informed that Southampton Water was not polluted to the extent he suggests.
62WCadland Creek, which is no doubt the I creek to which my hon. Friend refers, is within the jurisdiction of the Southampton Harbour Board, and they have informed me that they are investigating the pollution there in conjunction with the Esso Petroleum Company. I do not propose to refer these instances of pollution to the Committee, which was set up to deal with the general question rather than with specific cases, and has now completed its work.