§ 67. Mr. Allasonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to local authorities concerning the relative priority to be given to sewerage schemes in their expenditure.
§ Mr. Graham PageLocal authorities themselves decide the relative priority for capital expenditure on their various statutory duties and have been given greater freedom by Circular 2/70 issued by my Department but the Department offer the advice that, as between different sewerage schemes, priority should be given to those needed for housing or industry; for reasons of public health; to fit rivers for use as a source of water supply; and to end the gross pollution of rivers; and that, beyond those categories, preference should be given to schemes which give the greatest benefit to rivers or aquifers. There is no comparable advice as to priorities between sewerage and other services.