HC Deb 18 November 1937 vol 329 cc572-4
58. Mr. Chorlton

asked the Minister of Health whether the report of the Southeast Regional Water Committee of Lancashire and District has been received; whether it is intended to publish their proposals; and when the consultative committee to co-ordinate the work of the two regional committees in Lancashire will be set up?

Sir K. Wood

I understand that the committee have not yet reported. No decision has yet been taken whether their proposals should be published. There is no intention, at present, to set up a consultative committee, pending a consideration of the matter by the Central Water Advisory Committee.

Mr. Chorlton

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect the report? Is it not for the public good that the report should be published, so that the exact state of affairs may be made known? Further, when will a co-ordinating committee be set up to co-ordinate the work of these two regional water committees?

Sir K. Wood

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to consider my reply.

59. Mr. Chorlton

asked the Minister of Health whether he will report the progress that has been made in the ascertainment of the available water sources in the country?

Sir K. Wood

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on this subject on the 2nd instant to my hon. Friend the Member for Elland (Mr. Levy).

Mr. Hicks

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of making inquiries as to the provision of adequate water supply by means of pipes in country villages, instead of relying upon separate wells of varied yielding capacity, so that these villages may have an adequate supply?

Sir K. Wood

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to send him the statement which I made to the Trades Union Congress, which dealt with that matter?

60. Mr. Chorlton

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the constantly increasing demand for water, coupled with the tendency to lesser rainfall that is now indicated, he is taking any steps to provide for national storage reservoirs, which may be utilised by suitable inter-connection, to help different districts?

Sir K. Wood

No, Sir. I think that future needs can efficiently and more economically be met by the local or regional action of water undertakers.

Mr. Chorlton

Despite the right hon. Gentleman's statement to the Trades Union Congress, is it not a fact that the state of affairs in regard to water supply is steadily becoming worse, and that no steps are being taken to meet it? Cannot he take some action really to help forward some scheme which later on would prove adequate for all purposes?

Sir K. Wood

I cannot agree with my hon. Friend. Great progress has been made, and I should also like to send him a copy of the statement I made to the Trades Union Congress.

65. Sir Henry Morris-Jones

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the insanitary state of the water supply at Kinmel Bay, in the county of Denbigh, and to the excessive price charged by a private company, the North Wales Water Company, otherwise known as the Kinmel Bay Estates, Limited; and what steps he proposes to take to enable the residents at Kinmel Bay to obtain a cheap supply of good water?

Sir K. Wood

My attention has been drawn to these complaints. The Urban District Council of Abergele have informed me that their medical officer of health is not prepared to advise them that the condition of the water is such as to be injurious to health. The charges made by the company, being non-statutory, are subject only to the terms of their contracts with their consumers, and I have no power to intervene. The area is within statutory limits of supply of the Rhyl Urban District Council. I understand that that council would be prepared to give a direct supply on a guarantee from the Abergele Council of a reasonable income on the capital expenditure involved, and I have recently drawn the attention of the latter council to this possibility.

Sir H. Morris-Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman send an inspector to this area to make an inquiry, as a large number of new residents have been induced to come to this area by the advertisement of this company? In view of the representations which have been made will he investigate the whole matter?

Sir K. Wood

Perhaps the hon. Member will confer with me. The difficulty is the contracts these people have made.

Mr. Levy

Does not this question show the urgent need for inaugurating a standard of purity for the water supplies of this country?

Sir K. Wood

This question deals with two specific matters, and does not refer to that general question.