Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 18 Rhagfyr 1973.
I think that the right hon. Gentleman has understood the burden of my argument, which is that if emergency powers are to be used so often, for whatever reason, one should look seriously at them. I draw his attention to Regulation 20, the significance of which escapes me. It says that:
Any sewerage authority may … discharge … foul … water into any natural or artificial stream, watercourse, canal, pond or lake. …
The right hon. Gentleman will remember that, in the Queen's Speech, we were told:
My Government will lay before you measures providing for greater control of environmental pollution.
A fortnight later we have this regulation. Why?