§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Ammon)I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
Let me state shortly the purpose of the Bill. By this Bill the House is asked to confirm certain agreements which have been made between the Admiralty, the Invergordon Town Council and the Ross and Cromarty County Council. The position shortly is that tale town of Invergordon had a small but adequate water supply, and outside near the town there were certain water courses which it was desired to tap chiefly in order to carry out the obligation to supply water to the neighbouring village of Alness. Then came the War, and the Admiralty came in with much larger needs. Certain works had to be carried out very hurriedly at the expense of the Admiralty but nominally under the authority of the town council. Now it is thought that it is necessary to hand over certain holdings, such as pipes, etc., belonging to the Admiralty, and certain arrangements have to be made with the county council to determine as to the properties which were passed over during the War period. These have been agreed to by the separate bodies, and this Bill is to im- 726 plement the agreement. The reason we have to come to the House instead of doing it by administrative Order is that according to the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, a public authority has power to get rid of its surplus water, but our legal authorities advise us that that cannot be interpreted to mean a regular and constant supply of 60,000 gallons a day in the one case and 8,000 gallons a day in another case. As this is a constant supply, it is necessary for us to come to the House in order to secure the proper authority.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a, Select Committee of Seven Members, Three to be nominated by the House and Four by the Committee of Selection.
§ Ordered, That all Petitions against the Bill presented three clear days before the meeting of the Committee be referred to the Committee; that the Petitioners praying to be heard by themselves, their Counsel, or Agents, be heard against the Bill, and Counsel heard in support of the Bill.
§ Ordered, That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records.
§ Ordered, That Three be the quorum.—[Mr. Ammon.]
§ The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.