§ 78. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the pollution of British rivers and beaches by untreated sewage and other polluting material; if he will make it an offence to discharge these into rivers and the sea; and if he will take powers to require all local authorities to install 132W machinery for treating sewage wherever possible.
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend is aware that the disposal of sewage and industrial effluent is a problem in some areas but he does not think that any new powers are needed. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Acts provide adequately for the control of discharges into rivers. Discharge into the sea, through properly designed outfall sewers, may well be the best method of disposal in coastal areas and it would be wrong to prohibit it.