§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which main rivers flowing in the Midlands area are too heavily polluted for the provision of drinking water; and what steps have been taken by his Department to remedy this position.
§ Mr. MacCollThe principal river in the Midlands which is at present too heavily polluted to be used for supply of drinking water is the Trent. Other heavily polluted rivers include the Tame, the Cole and the Worcestershire Stour.
339WRiver and sewage disposal authorities in this area have been given continual encouragement and support in taking appropriate action to remedy pollution where it occurs. In addition, the Department have been in touch with the Water Resources Board, the Water Pollution Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology and the Trent River Authority about a study of the possibility of using the Trent and its tributaries for water supply. This should establish, among other things, whether it would be feasible to improve the quality of water in the Trent to the point where it can be used for supply of drinking water.