§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the proposal that sewage from the central development area of Hampshire shall be pumped into the Solent.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineI understand that the Hampshire County Council and the district councils concerned have been 107W discussing general proposals for main drainage of the central part of South Hampshire and are considering a scheme which includes a discharge of partially-treated sewage to the Solent. There are no proposals before my right hon. Friend at present.
Under the Clean Rivers (Estuaries and Tidal Waters) Act, 1960, a new discharge of trade or sewage effluent from the mainland to the Solent could only begin with the consent of the river authority; and my right hon. Friend would not give loan sanction for the construction of a new outfall there until that consent had been obtained, or he had determined an appeal against the refusal of consent or against conditions attached to a consent.