§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for a local authority to refuse to empty a septic tank for a domestic ratepayer where that ratepayer is paying a sewerage charge and is not on mains drainage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellNo. The Public Health Act 1936 already allows local authorities to provide such a service and to charge for it. Section 12(5) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 will oblige local authorities to do so.