HC Deb 31 January 1949 vol 460 cc1379-81
60. Mrs. Manning

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the proposal to flood many areas of valuable agricultural land at Hanningfield in Essex for the purpose of making a reservoir; that the scheme can only be of temporary value for a local water supply; and what steps he is taking for the conservation of first class agricultural land in view of the four-year plan and further long-distance plans for the expansion of agriculture in this country.

Mr. T. Williams

I am aware that the construction of a reservoir at Hanningfield is being considered by the South Essex and Southend Water Companies. If proposals are formally submitted by the water companies to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, my Department will be consulted and the scheme will be carefully examined from the agricultural point of view. Meanwhile preliminary inquiries are being made by my Department about the likely effect of such a scheme. In reply to the last part of the Question, there are administrative arrangements under which my Department is consulted on all important development proposals in order that full weight can be given to the agricultural considerations involved.

Mrs. Manning

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when a water company sets out to try to discover where there is water available, it will try to find the cheapest way of getting the water, and the question of the value of the agricultural land does not come into it? At what point is my right hon. Friend consulted?

Mr. Williams

As I have already said, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health would always consult my Department before any decisions are taken. wherever they may be.

Mr. Driberg

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that his Department and the agricultural interests generally are consulted early enough in the process, and can he say what alternative sites in Essex for this reservoir have been considered?

Mr. Williams

The latter part of the supplementary question is totally different from the one on the Order Paper. In reply to the first part of the supplementary, it is true that the Ministry of Agriculture have every opportunity of stating their case on agricultural grounds—

Mr. Driberg

Early enough?

Mr. Williams

Yes, early enough. A project of this kind will be subject to the statutory procedure laid down in the Water Act involving full publicity and the holding of a public inquiry.

Mrs. Manning

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that this case is one of the clearest examples of the necessity for an over-all water policy and plan in this country?

Mr. Williams

I should not attempt to deny it.