§ 57. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the proposal of the Manchester Corporation to dump sewage effluent off the coast of North Wales; and what steps he is proposing to take to prevent the consequent pollution of the sea and beaches in this tourist area.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerManchester and Salford Corporations have been dumping treated sewage sludge, not raw sewage, about 14 miles out in Liverpool Bay for over 70 years without any apparent ill-effects.
Last year I set up a Working Party of scientific experts to consider the effects of extending this practice including the effect on the beaches. It is expected that the Working Party's Report will be published about the middle of next year, and any proposals made will be considered in the light of it.