§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for protecting the North Wales coast and Dee Estuary from pollution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasLocal authorities are statutorily responsible for making and carrying out plans to deal with the pollution caused by discharges of domestic sewage and trade effluents from public sewers. In the case of discharges from the Welsh side of the Dee Estuary all effluents are fully treated with the exception of that from Holywell Urban District which plans to make a start in 1971 on a scheme to give full treatment to the town's effluent. On the north coast a main outfall at Rhyl was completed in 1965 and at Prestatyn a new outfall is under construction.
Oil discharges within territorial waters are an offence under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1955, and international action is being taken to minimise the risk of accidental collision or spillages.