§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a progress report on the action being taken by his Department to ensure that sewage and other debris no longer fouls any British bathing waters or coastline.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsLocal authorities are at present responsible for sewage disposal but my right hon. and learned Friend authorises borrowing for that purpose only when he is satisfied that there would be no risk of fouling bathing waters or beaches.
The Water Bill now before Parliament would make the proposed new regional water authorities responsible for sewage disposal, and the recently published report of a survey of coastal discharges of foul sewage should help them to decide what improvements are needed and to determine priorities.
The Government support the work of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, which will be tackling at its next conference in the autumn the problem of debris jettisoned from ships.
Local authorities are responsible for clearing any debris which comes ashore.