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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the public health implications of the untreated waste and sewage washed up at Orlock, County Down. [224257] Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Lady Hermon, dated 6 April 2005: You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the public health implications of the untreated waste and sewage washed up at Orlock, County Down (224257). I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of Water Service. Water Service regrets the problems that have arisen due to the failure of the screening plant at Briggs Rock, Orlock. The Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety, which is responsible for policy on public health matters, has advised that, while it is understood that the North Down borough council has assessed the situation at Orlock from a public health perspective, the Public Health Department of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has been asked to liaise with North Down borough council to determine if there is any risk to public health from this situation, and if so, to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to deal with it. DHSSPS will advise you of the outcome of these investigations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1540W;432 c1536W; 224257

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Coastal areas Health hazards Pollution Sewage Water treatment Water Service Orlock

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk