§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how long it will take to provide sewage treatment facilities for the cities, burghs and villages of Scotland; and at what estimated cost at current values.
§ Mr. William RossResponsibility for the provision of sewage treatment facilities will in future rest with the new regional authorities in Scotland. It is not possible to say how long it will take to provide the additional works still required or what they will cost.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary cities in Scotland presently discharge of State for Scotland what burghs and untreated sewage; how many rural vil- 50W lages arc likewise affected; how many sewage treatment schemes are currently in progress or authorised; which cities, burghs or villages are affected by such schemes; how much grant aid and loans are so committed; and whether any such schemes have been adversely affected by cuts in Government spending over the last five years.
§ Mr. William RossThe cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee, 76 burghs listed below, and 142 villages around the coast of Scotland presently discharge untreated sewage to the sea or tidal waters. Apart from discharges from parts of the burghs of Dollar and Tillicoultry, Kemnay—where a new works is under construction—and six villages, virtually all sewage discharged to inland waters is treated. Some 65 substantial sewage treatment and disposal schemes listed below and many other smaller schemes are currently in progress. Capital expenditure committed to schemes currently in progress or authorised is about £120 million, and grant aid is offered at the rate of 30 per cent, for schemes to serve rural communities. Current expenditure on sewerage and sewage treatment, which includes loan charges, is assisted through the rate support grant. The need to limit capital expenditure in recent years has led inevitably to some slowing down in the programme for some of the less essential schemes.
List of burghs discharging untreated sewage to the sea or tidal waters:
- Anstruther.
- Arbroath.
- Ardrossan.
- Ayr.
- Banff.
- Bo'ness.
- Buckhaven and Methil.
- Buckie.
- Burghead.
- Burntisland.
- Campbeltown.
- Carnoustie.
- Cockenzie and Port Seton.
- Crail.
- Cromarty.
- Cullen.
- Culross.
- Dingwall.
- Dunbar.
- Dunfermline.
- Dunoon.
- Elie and Earlsferry.
- Ellon.
- Eyemouth.
- Findochty.
- Fortrose.
51 - Fraserburgh
- Girvan.
- Gourock.
- Grangemouth
- Greenock
- Helensburgh
- Inveraray
- Inverbervie
- lnvergordon
- lnverkeithing
- Inverness
- Irvine
- Kilmarnock
- Kirkcaldy
- Kinghorn
- Kirkwall
- Largs
- Lerwick
- Lossiemouth
- Macduff
- Millport
- Monifieth
- Montrose
- Musselburgh
- Newport and Tayport
- North Berwick
- North Queensferry
- Peterhead
- Pittenweem
- Port Glasgow
- Portnockie
- Portsoy
- Prestonpans
- Prestwick
- Rosehearty
- Rothesay
- Saltcoats
- South Queensferry
- St. Andrews
- St. Monance
- Stevenston
- Stonehaven
- Stornoway
- Stromness
- Tain
- Thurso
- Tobermory
- Tranent
- Troon
- Wick
List of main sewage treatment and disposal schemes on which work is currently in progress:
- Aberfeldy
- Airdrie
- Armadale
- Aviemore
- Balmedie
- Benderloch
- Blackburn (Aberdeenshire)
- Blackwood
- Blairgowrie
- Bothwellbank
- Brechin
- Carbarns (Motherwell)
- Daldowie (Lanarkshire)
- Dalscore (Dumfriesshire)
- Deerdykes (Cumbernauld)
- Dumfries (Troqueer)
- Dumfermline
- Edinburgh
- Ellon
- Erskine
- Forfar
52 - Fort William
- Galashiels
- Gatehouse
- Gauldry
- Glasgow (Shieldhall)
- Grangemouth
- Haddington
- Hamilton
- Hatton of Cruden
- Innerleithen and Walkerburn
- Invergordon
- Irvine Valley
- Johnstone
- Kemnay
- Lauder
- Leadhills
- Leuchars
- Longside
- Mauldslie
- Mintlaw
- Muirkirk
- Neilston
- Newbridge (Midlothian)
- Newburgh (Aberdeenshire)
- Oban
- Oldmeldrum
- Overtoun
- Peebles
- Penicuick
- Peterhead
- Philipshill
- Queenzieburn
- Renfrew
- Rockcliffe
- Salsburgh
- Selkirk
- St. Andrews
- Stranraer
- Tarves
- Vale of Leven
- Wallyford (Midlothian)
- Whitburn
- Whithorn
- Wigtown and Bladnoch.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the likely cost, at current values, of works to treat Dundee sewage to modern safe standards prior to disposals; and what recommendations have been made by the Government to Dundee Corporation about the time scales for start and completion of these works.
§ Mr. William RossThe latest estimate of cost for the provision of sewage treatment facilities for the city of Dundee is about £15 million. Outline proposals for the phasing of construction of a proposed scheme were received in 1972, and my Department accepted the scheme in principle. Although some preliminary expenditure has been incurred the Government have not yet received firm proposals for starting and completion dates for the whole scheme. No recommendations have been made by the Government to Dundee Corporation on this aspect.
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Mr. GordonWilson asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the methods by which Dundee sewage is disposed of; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RossSome 80 per cent. of the sewage from Dundee is currently discharged untreated to the estuary of the Tay. There is no evidence that this practice constitutes a danger to health.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans for modern sewage treatment have been presented to his Department by Dundee Corporation in the last 10 years; what was the estimated cost; and what grant or loan aid was offered in each such case.
§ Mr. William RossIn 1972 the corporation submitted an outline plan of its proposals for improving the city's sewage disposal arrangements, at an estimated cost of £7,917,000 at January 1971 prices. The corporation was informed that no specific grant would be available. Applications for borrowing consents for £56,500 have been received for expenditure on preliminary items. Consents for £50,000 have already been issued, and I am ready to issue consent for the remaining item of £6,500 when the Tayside Regional Council signifies its agreement.