§ 4.7 p.m.
§ Mr. CHARLES BROWNI beg to move, in page 12, to leave out lines 39 to 41.
49 So far the Minister has accepted all the Amendments on the Order Paper, and I think that I might begin by expressing the hope that he will accept this one, which would make this temporary Measure permanent. It seems to be the misfortune of the present Government that when they do things which are bad, they are thoroughly bad and permanent, but when they attempt things which are good they only do them in a half-hearted sort of fashion. On occasions like this they introduce Measures which are of a purely temporary character. My right hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood), on the Second Reading of the Bill, said that we on these benches did not take any exception to its provisions, but he stated that he would much have prefererd a Bill even at that stage to be of a permanent character. He did not object at all to the powers which the Minister sought to take in this Measure. Having gone through Committee, I think that the argument in favour of making the Bill permanent rather than temporary is very much stronger than it was when the Bill was introduced, because those of us who have been in Committee upstairs found the Minister quite willing to accept all kinds of restrictive Amendments, and the powers which are conferred upon him by the Bill are now restricted in all kinds of ways. He has listened with a ready ear to all those Members representing rural and agricultural areas. He has paid heed to everything they have had to say, and more or less he has incorporated in the Bill the various ideas they have put before him in regard to safeguarding their rights and privileges, and I cannot, therefore, see any reason at all why the Bill should not be made a permanent Measure.
May I recall to the House the powers which the Minister, as stated in his Second Reading speech, takes in this Measure? He has to proceed by Orders, which are to be made for six months, and if at the end of that time it is necessary to renew the Orders, he will renew them; but the Bill comes to an end on 31st December, 1935. Then he told us what he can do under those Orders. He said that he might take steps to tap new sources of supply to deal with the water position and to redistribute available supplies. I want to ask if there is any 50 real reason why the Minister should not have these powers permanently? There seems to be no reason at all why the really slight powers he is given by this Bill, surrounded by all these restrictions, should not be his permanent possession. After all, the Minister of Health for the time being is, to a very large degree, the Member of the Government who has to safeguard the health and life of the community in all sorts of ways, and we all know how important a factor is the question of water.
The right hon. Gentleman reminded us in the Second Reading Debate of our developing civilisation, and the greater calls which are made on the water resources of the country, and he admitted that his difficulties are not only due to the drought which has occurred, but are due, in part, to the increasing calls of our developing civilisation. Providence, for some unknown reason, seems to smile on the present Government. World conditions get better, and they take advantage of them in the economic sphere. They introduce a Bill to deal with the water emergency, and it begins to rain. Consequently, from that aspect, at any rate, things seem to be on their side. But the Minister knows as well as anybody that every area in the world is liable to climatic changes, and we have been experiencing a variety of climatic changes. He said that we had not had a drought on the same scale since 1887, and, looking to the immediate future, he does not expect that aspect of the matter to be repeated, but the other side of the matter is bound to call for more and more attention, namely, the increasing demand of our developing civilisation on the available water supplies. Consequently, why should we not give the Minister of Health the powers he takes in this Bill permanently?
I see the hon. Member for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto) looking across at me, and I remember the speech he made on the Second Reading of the Bill. He called it a Communistic Measure, and I imagine he would like to see it removed at the earliest available opportunity. As a matter of fact, after hearing him in Committee, I am surprised that he has not an Amendment on the Order Paper to limit its operation to six months or 51 less. But we do not share the hon. Baronet's views. We think that the Minister might very well have these powers permanently, and then, without wasting the time of Parliament again should the demands of advancing civilisation rapidly increase, or should there be a fresh drought, he would have the power already to deal with the situation.
§ 4.14 p.m.
§ Mr. TINKERI beg to second the Amendment.
I do not think that I can do better than refer to the Amendment moved by the Secretary of State for Scotland which, he stated, was very important, and meant much to Scotland. If we are dealing with such very important matters why cannot we make them permanent? Regard, therefore, ought to be given to our Amendment. When the Bill was introduced, I welcomed something being done to deal with the scarcity of water, and I drew attention to several sources of supply. I mentioned pits, but the Parliamentary Secretary said that some might not like soup. I want to correct that view. The water that percolates into the mines at a certain point is absolutely clear, and from that point it could be drawn off for use. Since this Bill was introduced I have learned of one place in East Lancashire where arrangements were made with a colliery for a supply of water from it, and I have also had letters from other colliery companies telling me that they have supplies of water which are going to waste. If this Bill is to be only temporary it will be difficult to make arrangements to obtain water from collieries.
If this Bill is to be applied only in times of drought, and when we have a thunderstorm or a few showers of rain the view is taken that there is no need to bother about water supply, we shall make ourselves a laughing stock in the eyes of the community. What has happened in the past 12 months is likely to happen again. Civilisation appears to move in the direction of making greater use of clean water. Anyone who has been in the East knows the difference between our standard of life and theirs. There they have no regard for conditions to which we pay so much attention. In our civilisation there is likely to be an ever-growing 52 need for water, and I say this Bill is taking us a step in the right direction, and it ought to be made permanent. If it is on the Statute Book and there is no need to put it in force, what difference will that make? But if it is law, then the Minister will at least have some backing for any steps which he may find it necessary to take. If it is allowed to pass off the Statute Book the time of Parliament will have to be taken up again when there is another drought, because we shall have to go through the whole rigmarole of Parliamentary procedure in passing legislation once more.
§ 4.18 p.m.
Sir H. YOUNGI am happy to find myself on much firmer ground on this Amendment than on the last occasion when I addressed the House. Let me say, first of all, in reply to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker), that we are by no means neglecting the possibility of getting water supplies from mines. There are cases, which will be known to him, as they are known to me, where actual use is made of such supplies at the present time, but in other cases, as the Parliamentary Secretary pointed out, the character of the water is not suitable for the purpose we have in mind. The hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. C. Brown) suggested that the Bill had been weakened in Committee. But I can say with absolute confidence that in Committee the Bill was very much strengthened as a machine for the purposes for which it is intended. I would ask the hon. Member this question : If the Amendments moved in Committee were so fatal to the Bill, why did the Opposition not trouble to divide against any of them? There was only one division, and that was on the Amendment now proposed by the hon. Member himself. Some of the Amendments, particularly that which related to penalties, were, if I remember rightly, warmly supported by the hon. Members now sitting opposite to me. They cannot have it both ways. I will give two instances of Amendments which I say specifically strengthen the Bill. One was the Amendment which enables us to deal with the drain upon the water supply by the opening and closing of sluices, and the other the Amendment which enables us to control things better through the navigation companies.
53 The real reason why the Amendment now before us should not be accepted is because the present Bill, in character and scope, is, from first to last, purely a temporary Measure. It was proposed to the House on those grounds, it has been dealt with both in Committee and in the House on those grounds, and nothing could be more absolutely improper than to give the least countenance to any proposal to put it on the Statute Book as a permanent law. What conditions the whole matter, and has made the House willing to grant these strong powers, is that it is a matter of notoriety to all of us that the drought is so serious as to require them; but if we were to put this forward as a permanent Measure it would simply need the length of the Minister's foot to bring these powers into force at any time, whether a drought were serious or not, and that is a proceeding to which the House would not consent. Before this could be accepted as a permanent Measure it would require to be drafted and framed in the appropriate manner, and various safeguards which are appropropriate to a permanent part of the machinery of the law would be needed, and it is impossible, when dealing with an emergency, to undertake such a prolonged business. Under these circumstances I think the House would be most reluctant to give any support to this Amendment.
§ 4.21 p.m.
§ Earl WINTERTONI rather regret the modern habit of Ministers rising immediately after an Amendment has been moved, because it does not give an opportunity to their supporters to put points to them. I say this in no spirit of discourtesy, but as an old Member of the House I recall that it was usual in past days for Ministers to rise at the end of a Debate, after ascertaining, by looking round the House, if anyone wished to put any points. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to allow the Parliamentary Secretary to answer me on one question. I am in full agreement with the Minister in what he says about the temporary nature of this Bill. Because of its temporary nature I have not spoken on it at any previous stage, although I am interested in the whole question of water supply and have studied it for many years. I think that, sooner or later, a permanent Bill to deal with the question of water supply in the 54 South of England will be absolutely essential. Things are getting into a chaotic state. I am sure that hon. Members representing agricultural constituencies will sympathise with me when I say that in some parts of the South of England, certainly in my constituency, farmers are finding that the water available in their wells and ponds is becoming less every year in consequence of water being taken for consumption by urban communities 20 or 30 miles away. Therefore, I hope that my right hon. Friend, either in answer to this Amendment or on Third Beading of the Bill, will give the House an assurance that before the life time of this Parliament comes to an end we shall have a permanent Bill to deal with this most important question of water supply, especially in regard to the respective needs of urban and rural areas.
§ 4.23 p.m.
§ Mr. LEVYIt is rather difficult for me to understand the mentality of hon. Members opposite. I had the honour to be a member of the Committee before which this Bill was discussed, and it was there described as being a weak Measure and a camouflage Measure. After having described it in such terms hon. Members opposite now come forward to say, "Let us make it permanent." In Committee I strongly opposed the proposal to make this Bill permanent, because it is only a temporary Measure to deal with an emergency. I agree with my Noble Friend the Member for Horsham (Earl Winter-ton) that it is essential before long to bring forward a comprehensive and permanent Measure to deal with water supplies both from the point of view of distribution and conservation. I also hope that such a Bill will deal with our undeveloped underground resources. An hon. Member opposite said there is a tremendous quantity of water in the coal mines. I think I am right in saying that, in spite of the drought, much the same volume of water as ever is being pumped to waste out of the mines to-day. Waste is going on there, and that water ought to be made available for the population. I think I am also right in saying that there is ample water in the country today, and that there would be no shortage, in spite of the lack of rainfall, if our underground resources were developed and utilised. I agree that the Minister ought not to accept this Amendment, but I join with the Noble Lord in the hope 55 that before long we shall have a comprehensive Measure before us.
§ 4.26 p.m.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe Noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winter-ton) has asked a specific question whether, if this Amendment were rejected and this Bill were passed, another and a permanent Bill would later be brought forward, particularly with reference to conditions in the South of England. The Noble Lord will recollect that quite recently we have passed a Bill which puts a substantial sum of money at the disposal of parishes in rural districts, and it is hoped that, as a result, something like £4,000,000 or £5,000,000 of capital works will be stimulated——
§ Earl WINTERTONI am sorry to interrupt, but my question referred to much greater matters than that. I was not dealing with the question of money being spent, but asking whether there is to be
§ a Bill to deal comprehensively with the whole question of water supplies throughout England. In the opinion of a great many of us in all parts of the House, the present state of the law is very unsatisfactory, and I hope the hon. Gentleman will be able at least to give us an undertaking that he will give favourable consideration to this matter.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI am sorry that I misunderstood the Noble Lord. As the Noble Lord knows, we are working on the advice of Advisory Committees set up in various parts of the country, and the time must come when the effort of those Committees must be co-ordinated and some action taken, but further than that the Noble Lord will not expect me to go.
§ Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill."
§ The House divided : Ayes, 251; Noes, 26.
57| Division No. 225.] | AYES. | [4.29 p.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Cobb, Sir Cyril | Hacking, Rt. Hon. Douglas H. |
| Adam", Samuel Vyvyan T. (Leeds, W.) | Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Hales, Harold K. |
| Alnsworth, Lieut.-Colonel Charles | Collins, Rt. Hon. Sir Godfrey | Hall, Capt. W. D'Arcy (Brecon) |
| Allan, Sir J. Sandeman (Llvarp'l, W.) | Colman. N. C. D. | Hamilton, Sir George (llford) |
| Allen, William (Stoke-on-Trent) | Conant, R. J. E. | Hamilton, Sir R. W.(Orkney & Zetl' nd) |
| Anstruther-Gray, W. J. | Cook, Thomas A. | Hammersley, Samuel S. |
| Applin, Lieut.-Col. Reginald V. K. | Copeland, Ida | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry |
| Apsley, Lord | Courthope, Colonel Sir George L. | Harris, Sir Percy |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Craddock, Sir Reginald Henry | Harvey, George (Lambeth, Kenn' gt'n) |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) |
| Balnlel, Lord | Crookshank. Capt. H. C. (Galnsb' ro) | Haslam, Henry (Horncastle) |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Crate, R. H. | Headlam, Lieut.-Col. Cuthbert M. |
| Barrie, Sir Charles Coupar | Davies, Maj. Geo. F.(Somerset, Yeovll) | Hellgers, Captain F. F. A. |
| Beauchamp, Sir Brograve Campbell | Davison, Sir William Henry | Henderson, Sir Vivian L. (Cnolmsford) |
| Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B. (Portsm' th, C) | Dawson, Sir Phllip | Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. |
| Belt, Sir Alfred L. | Denman, Hon. R D. | Hope, Capt. Hon. A. O. J. (Aston) |
| Benn, Sir Arthur Shirley | Despencer-Robertson, Major J. A. F. | Horsbrugh, Florence |
| Bernays, Robert | Dickie, John P. | Howitt, Dr. Alfred B. |
| Betterton, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry B. | Dower, Captain A. V. G. | Hurst, Sir Gerald B. |
| Bossom, A. C. | Drewe, Cedric | Hutchison, W. D. (Essex, Romford) |
| Boulton, W. W. | Duckworth, George A. V. | Jackson, Sir Henry (Wandsworth, C.) |
| Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vanslttart | Duggan, Hubert John | James, Wing-Com. A. W. H. |
| Bower, Lieut.-Com. Robert Tatton | Duncan, James A. L. (Kensington, N.) | Johnstone, Harcourt (S. Shields) |
| Bowyer, Capt. Sir George E. W. | Elliston, Captain George Sampson | Ker, J. Campbell |
| Braithwaite. J. G. (Hillsborough) | Eimley, Viscount | Kerr, Hamilton W. |
| Brace, Captain Sir William | Emmott, Charles E. G. C. | Keyes, Admiral Sir Roger |
| Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Emrys-Evans, P. V. | Knight, Holford |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks., Newb'y) | Erskine, Lord (Weston-super-Mare) | Knox, Sir Alfred |
| Buchan, John | Erskine-Bolst, Capt. C. C. (Blk' pool) | Lamb, Sir Joseph Quinton |
| Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. | Ford, Sir Patrick J. | Lambert. Rt. Hon. George |
| Burnett, John George | Fox, Sir Gilford | Law, Richard K. (Hull, S. W.) |
| Burton, Colonel Henry Walter | Fremantle, Sir Francis | Leech, Dr. J. W. |
| Cadogan, Hon. Edward | Galbraith, James Francis Wallace | Leighton, Major B. E. P. |
| Campbell, Sir Edward Taswell (Brmly) | Ganzonl, Sir John | Levy, Thomas |
| Caporn, Arthur Cecil | Gault, Lieut.-Col. A. Hamilton | Liddall, Walter S. |
| Cayzer, Sir Charles (Chester, City) | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Lindsay, Kenneth (Kilmarnock) |
| Cayzer, Maj. Sir H. R. (Prtsmth., S.) | Glossop, C. W. H. | Lindsay, Noel Ker |
| Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) | Gluckstein, Louis Halle | Lloyd, Geoffrey |
| Cazalet, Capt. V. A. (Chippenham) | Glyn, Major Sir Ralph G. C. | Locker-Lampson, Rt. Hn. G.(Wd. Gr'n) |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir J. A. (Blrm., W.) | Goldie, Noel B. | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (H'ndsw' th) |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N.(Edgbaston) | Goodman, Colonel Albert w. | Loder, Captain J. de Vere |
| Chapman, Sir Samuel (Edinburgh, S.) | Gower, sir Robert | Loftus, Pierce C. |
| Chorlton, Alan Ernest Leofric | Granville, Edgar | Lovat Fraser, James Alexander |
| Christie, James Archibald | Grattan-Doyle. Sir Nicholas | Lumley, Captain Lawrence R. |
| Clarke, Frank | Grimston, R. V. | Mabane, William |
| Clarry, Reginald George | Gulnness, Thomas L. E. B. | MacAndrew, Capt. J. O. (Ayr) |
| Clayton, Sir Christopher | Guy, J. C. Morrison | McCorquodale, M. S. |
| MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) | Rea, Walter Russell | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Lord (Fylde) |
| McKeag, William | Reed, Arthur C. (Exetar) | Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westmorland) |
| McKle, John Hamilton | Reid, James S. C. (Stirling) | Stewart, J. H. (Fife, E.) |
| Maclay, Hon. Joseph Paton | Held, William Allan (Derby) | Stones, James |
| Macmillan. Maurice Harold | Remer, John R. | Strauss, Edward A. |
| Macquisten, Frederick Alexander | Rhys, Hon. Charles Arthur u. | Stuart, Lord C. Crichton |
| Maitland, Adam | Rickards, George William | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir Murray F. |
| Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. | Ropner, Colonel L. | Sugdan, Sir Wilfrid Hart |
| Mayhew, Lieut.-Colonel John | Rosbotham, Sir Thomas | Summersby, Charles H. |
| Meller, Sir Richard James | Ross, Ronald D. | Tate, Mavis Constance |
| Mille, Sir Frederick (Leyton. E.) | Ross Taylor, Walter (Woodbridge) | Taylor, Vice-Admiral E. A. (P'dd'gt'n, S.) |
| Mitchell, Harold P. (Br'tt'd & Chisw'k) | Rothschild, James A. de | Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) |
| Motion, A. Hugh Elsdale | Runciman, Rt. Hon. Walter | Thomson, Sir Frederick Charles |
| Monsell, Rt. Hon. Sir B. Eyres | Runge, Norah Cecil | Thorp, Linton Theodora |
| Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) | Touche, Gordon Cosmo |
| Morrison, G. A. (Scottish Univer'ties) | Russell, Hamer Field (Sheffield, B'tside) | Tufnell, Lieut.-Commander R. L. |
| Morrison, William Shephard | Rutherford, Sir John Hugo (Liverp'l) | Turton, Robert Hugh |
| Moss, Captain H. J. | Salmon, Sir Isidore | Wallace, Captain D. E. (Hornsey) |
| Mulrhead, Lieut.-Colonel A. J. | Samuel, Sir Arthur Michael (F'nham) | Ward, Irene Mary Bewick (Wallsend) |
| Munro, Patrick | Samuel, Rt Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) | Wardlaw-Mllne, Sir John S. |
| Nation, Brigadier-General J. J. H. | Sandeman, Sir A. N. Stewart | Watt, Captain George Steven H. |
| Nicholson. Godfrey (Morpeth) | Sanderson, Sir Frank Barnard | Wedderburn, Henry James Scrymgeour |
| North, Edward T. | Savory, Samuel Sarvington | Weymouth, Viscount |
| Nunn, William | Shakespeare, Geoffrey H. | White, Henry Graham |
| Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hn. William G. A. | Shaw, Helen B. (Lanark, Bothwall) | Whiteside, Borras Noel H. |
| Peake, Captain Osbert | Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir John | Williams, Herbert G. (Croydon, S.) |
| Peat, Charles U. | Sinclair, Maj. Rt. Hn. Sir A.(C'thness) | Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir Arnold (Hertf'd) |
| Penny, Sir George | Skelton, Archibald Noel | Wilson, G. H. A. (Cambridge U.) |
| Percy, Lord Eustace | Smiles, Lieut.-Col. Sir Walter D. | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl |
| Peto, Sir Basil E- (Devon, Barnstaple) | Smith, Sir J. Walker (Barrow-ln-F.) | Wise, Alfred R. |
| Peto, Geoffrey K.(W'verh' pt'n Bilston) | Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dlne, C.) | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir H. Kingsley |
| Powell, Lieut.-Col. Evelyn G. H. | Smithers, Waldron | Worthington, Dr. John V. |
| Pownall, Sir Assheton | Somerville, Annesley A. (Windsor) | Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton (S'v' noakt) |
| Procter, Major Henry Adam | Soper, Richard | Young, Ernest J. (Middlesbrough, E.) |
| Raikes, Henry V. A. M. | Southby, Commander Archibald R. J. | |
| Ramsay, T. B. W. (Western Isles) | Spears, Brigadier-General Edward L. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES— |
| Ramsbotham, Herwald | Spencer, Captain Richard A. | Sir Victor Warrender and Lieut.- |
| Rankin, Robert | Spent, William Patrick | Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adams, D. M. (Poplar, South) | Edwards, Charles | Maxton, James |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | George, Major 8. Lloyd (Pembroke) | Smith, Tom (Normanton) |
| Batey, Joseph | George, Megan A. Lloyd (Anglesea) | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) | Greenwood, Rt. Hon. Arthur | Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah |
| Brown, C. W. E. (Notts., Mansfield) | Grenfell, David Rees (Glamorgan) | West, F. R. |
| Cripps, Sir Stafford | Grundy, Thomas W. | Wilmot, John |
| Daggar, George | Hall, George H. (Merthyr Tydvll) | |
| Davies. David L. (Pontypridd) | Logan, David Gilbert | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Lunn, William | Mr. Groves and Mr. G. Macdonald. |
| Dobbie, William | McEntee, Valentine L. |
Bill read a Second time, and committed to a Standing Committee.