§ 28. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Health if he has had information from local authorities since 1933 of supplies of water being available from colliery shafts, and if any of them have made use of it since January, 1934; and what is the amount used at present from that source?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARESince 1st January, 1934, my right hon. Friend has received information that one authority proposes to take emergency supplies from an old colliery working. The 27 water undertakers referred to in the reply to the hon. Member's question on the 10th May last are still obtaining supplies from this source, but my right hon. Friend has no records of the amounts taken.
§ Mr. TINKERWill the hon. Member urge local authorities to try and do something to make use of this water, because I can assure him that a lot of water which would be most useful to the community is going to waste?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI have no doubt that they will take notice of the question and answer.
§ 29. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Health if his Department has made a survey and calculation of all the available supplies of water; and whether it is his intention to co-ordinate them and bring them under one central control for distribution?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREWith regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. Levy) on the 18th December last, of which I am sending him a copy. There is no intention of proceeding as in the second part of the question. The procedure is for the responsible local authorities to survey their needs and to submit plans for meeting them. Common action is taken where there is common interest and co-ordination of supply is aimed at where it is the right method of meeting the needs.
§ Mr. TINKERAre we to wait until the thing becomes a dread before we do anything at all? In my opinion, this subject will demand more attention from the Government than it has had up to the present.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe hon. Member need only wait for an hour when the whole water position will be explained by the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. CHORLTONIs the hon. Member not aware of the strong recommendations made as long ago as 1920 by a commission which inquired into this subject upon all the points raised in the question, which even up to now have not received attention?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI am aware that we are carrying out the policy advocated by the Advisory Water Committee.