§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether John Hudson Limited have yet dumped any industrial wastes near the Kentish Knock in the area authorised by his Department;
(2) whether his Department has yet approved the proposal of John Hudson Limited to dump industrial wastes in the outer Thames Estuary;
(3) if he will place in the House of Commons Library a copy of the chemical analysis of the first batch of industrial wastes to be dumped by John Hudson Limited in the outer Thames Estuary.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartMy Department has agreed, under its voluntary arrangements to certain applications by John Hudson Ltd. to dispose of wastes at sea in the outer Thames Estuary beyond the Kentish Knock. The timing of agreed disposals is a matter for the firm concerned: but the voluntary arrangements include periodic notifications to my Department that disposals have been made in accordance with the terms of the Department's agreements.
My Department regards it as important in the operation of voluntary arrangements to guarantee that information supplied by commercial enterprises about the composition of wastes proposed to be dumped will remain confidential.