§ Sir D. Kaberryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take powers to repeal all pre-1914 Acts which now operate to prevent water authorities such as the Yorkshire Water 533W Authority from acting under modern law to control the quality of and to make appropriate charges for trade effluents discharged into public sewers; and whether he will consider sympathetically any application which that authority makes to him for that purpose as part of its drive to clean up the rivers of Yorkshire.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe answer to the first part of the Question is that my right hon. Friend's powers under Section 12 of the Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937, together with those proposed in Clause 101(3) of the Control of Pollution Bill now before the House, appear to be sufficient to enable him to remove any such obstacle. But he is reviewing the position and certainly if there is brought to his notice any particular in which those powers seem to be inadqeuate for the purpose, my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider tabling an amendment to the Bill to increase them.
The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes", though my right hon. Friend would, of course, have to give due consideration to any representations he might receive against an application.