§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his plans are for reducing the input of zinc in sewage sludge which may be spread on the land. [21149]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Government have accepted in its response to the report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution on the sustainable use of soil that there should be continued action to reduce the concentration of zinc and other metals in sewage sludge. We intend to commission a further survey of sewage sludge quality in 1998. This will provide the opportunity to confirm the effect of trade effluent controls in considerably reducing metal concentrations over the last692W two decades and will provide a basis for assessing the need for any further steps, taking into account the potential costs and benefits.