§ 26. Ms SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on recent research commissioned by his Department into the possible health hazards of sewage and waste disposal. [41278]
§ Mr. MacdonaldMy noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Fisheries announced on 5 May that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had been asked to carry out a strategic review of recycling of all organic wastes to land. This study is due to be completed by Autumn 1998.
335WA co-ordinated project by the Macaulay land use research institute and the Scottish agriculture college into the disposal of wastes to land has recently started. This should be completed by April 2000. However, we would expect interim findings in early 1999.
In addition, the Water Research Centre's review of the scientific evidence relating to the agricultural use of sewage sludge is expected to be published shortly.