§ 60. Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring in legislation to deal with the anomalous position of the pollution of rivers by water authorities who are also responsible for sewage disposal; and if he will make a statement on the subject.
§ Mr. John SilkinNo. Water authorities' discharges are already subject to control under Section 17 of the Water Act 1973.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which rivers and streams in the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire are classified as gravely polluted; and which have been improved to reach a higher classification during the last five years.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe following rivers and streams in the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire have stretches in 203W Class 4—grossly polluted—of the River Pollution Survey classification. The total length of watercourse in Class 4 is 137.6 km, which is 13.9 km less than the length in that classification some five years ago. The streams where some improvement has taken place are marked with an asterisk.
River Tributory Don Mill Dike, Blackwater Dike, Greasbrough Dike*, Chapel Flat Dike, Blackburn Brook, Sickley Brook*, Car Brook, Little Don. Went Great Common Drain*. Dearne* Hound Hill Dike, Knoll Beck*, Blacker Dyke. Rother Whiston Brook*, Shire Brook, Pigionbridge Brook.