§ 65. Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to continue the work of the Inland Water Survey which was interrupted by the war; and to make public the facts which are vital to the future prosperity of the country.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Blenkinsop)This survey was seriously handicapped before the war by two factors. First, there was no requirement on persons abstracting water from underground to keep records of the water abstracted, and to supply the Government with those records. This has now been rectified by Regulations made under Section 6 of the Water Act, 1945. Secondly, there was a lack of information on river flows owing to the paucity of gauges on rivers. The River Boards Act, 1948, has placed a duty on river boards to instal gauges on their rivers and to keep records of the flows. As these records of underground and surface water resources become available, it is proposed from time to time to publish the information, and it is expected that the next publication will be in about 18 months.
§ Sir R. GlynMay I ask whether the Ministry of Town and Country Planning are being kept fully informed as to the availability of water?
§ Mr. BlenkinsopYes, Sir.