HL Deb 13 March 1986 vol 472 cc785-6WA
Lord Stanley of Alderley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they intend to take prior to the Menai Straits becoming a marine nature reserve, to ensure that the straits, in particular the area between the tubular and suspension bridges, are free of sewage; and whether the notice erected in that area by the local authority warning bathers that the beach was polluted was correct; and if so what was the cause of the pollution; and

Whether the sewage outfall into the area between the two bridges over the Menai Straits is, in the future, likely to take any more sewage; and if so, whether they will take such steps as is necessary to prevent any such loading causing environmental damage to the proposed marine nature reserve in that area.

The Minister of State for Defence Support (Lord Trefgarne)

The Questions raised by my noble friend are not matters for Her Majesty's Government.

The Welsh Water Authority is a statutory body charged with responsibilities including sewage disposal. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment upon the matters which are considered to be fully within the authority's competence. I have, however, arranged for the two Questions to be sent to the chairman of The Welsh Water Authority, and requested that he write to my noble friend about the issues raised.