§ Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking, following the findings of the River Pollution Survey, reported in Circular 64/72, that the greater part of industrial process water is discharged direct to rivers and canals, to increase the proportion which is directed through local authority sewage treatment works.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsMy right hon. and learned Friend has no proposals in this respect. River authorities control all discharges to rivers and canals, whether from 435W sewage disposal works or from industry, and in general we think it right to leave the industrialist to decide, within the river authorities' consents, whether to discharge process water to the public sewers for treatment at sewage disposal works, or to treat it himself before discharging it direct to river or canal.