§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now ban the discharge into waters off the north Devon coast of untreated sewage and chemical waste.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe discharge of waste by pipeline is regulated by water authorities. Water authorities' own discharges of sewage by pipeline are regulated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
My Ministry licenses deposits from vessels. There are no licences for deposit off the north Devon coast of chemical waste. Most of the sewage sludge which is licensed has been treated. The disposal site is periodically monitored and no significant adverse effects have been identified.