§ 87. Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the increase in foaming in the lower reaches of the River Trent at Gainsborough, caused by the increasing use of synthetic detergents; and what action he proposes to take to prevent a further increase.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI am advised by the Trent River Board that so far as it is aware there has been no material increase recently in foaming in the lower reaches of the river.
87WFoaming on rivers is part of a much wider problem. The proper remedy is to devise and adopt measures whereby synthetic detergent residues are completely broken down during sewage treatment. Research in this direction is being promoted by the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents which was appointed at the beginning of this year.