80. Mrs. Hillasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has been taken on the progress report of 1963 of the Standing Technical Committee set up to study synthetic detergents and foam caused by them.
§ Mr. CorfieldProgressive improvement has been effected by the substitution of "soft" base materials which break down more easily in sewage purification, for the "hard" materials used formerly. The commercial feasibility of using the still softer materials referred to in the sixth Report of the Standing Technical Committee is currently under investigation.
81. Mrs. Hillasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what reports have been received from river boards where effluent from sewage works is discharged into a river; and to what extent windborne foam from such a river can carry germs.
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend receives annual reports from all river boards. But no recent reports suggest that there is anxiety about windborne foam. For the answer to the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to that given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall).