Hydrological Research (Committee)

HC Deb 18 April 1961 vol 638 cc958-60

25. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will create an organisation to conduct basic research into the problems of conservation and long-term utilisation of water supplies.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Science (Mr. Denzil Freeth)

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has set up a Committee on Hydrological Research. I will circulate the terms of reference and membership in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Committee has already held its first meeting.

Mr. de Freitas

In view of the long record of lack of imagination and enterprise by the Ministries of Agriculture and Local Government in this matter, can the hon. Member assure us that neither of these Departments will be allowed to interfere with what is a basic research project?

Mr. Freeth

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Ministers in charge of those Departments are co-operating fully, as are a large number of other bodies which, as he will see from the OFFICIAL REPORT, are represented on this Committee.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that a committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee is already going into a good deal of this matter? Will he ensure that the new Committee will work closely with it?

Mr. Freeth

The aim of this new Committee, I can assure my hon. Friend, is not to duplicate any work already being done, and it is beginning by surveying and assessing what current research is being carried on in order to see where the gaps are.

The following are the details:

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. 1. to survey and assess current research relevant to water conservation in the United Kingdom;
2. 2. to identify needs for further reseach;
3. 3. to allocate priorities;
4. 4. to determine where research should be done and to co-ordinate the work as necessary;
5. 5. to report from time to time on the progress made.

Membership of the Committee on Hydrological Research

B. K. Blount, Esq., C.B., D.Phil. Nat., F.R.I.C, (Chairman), H.Q., D.S.I.R.

• E. C. Childs. Esq., Sc.D., Ph.D., Unit of Soil Physics (Agricultural Research Council).
960
• H. L. Penman, Esq., M.Sc., Ph.D., F.Inst. P., Rothamsted Experimental Station (Agricultural Research Council).
• E. A. G. Johnson, Esq., C.B.E., B.Sc., M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E., Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food.
• J. K. Wilson, Esq., M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Struct.E., A.R.I.C.S., A.M.I.W.E., Department of Agriculture for Scotland.
• J. G. Munro. Esq., B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.W.E., Department of Health for Scotland.
• R. F. Wood, Esq., B.A., B.Sc. (For)., Forestry Commission Research Station.
• C. H. Spens. Esq., M.I.C.E., Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
• A. G. Boulton, Esq., M.A., M.I.C.E., Surface Water Survey (Ministry of Housing and Local Government).
• P. J. Meade, Esq., O.B.E., B.Sc., A.R.C.S., Meteorological Office.
• E. B. Worthington, Esq., M.A., Ph.D., Nature Conservancy.
• Professor M. V. Laurie, O.B.E., M.A., Dip. For., Department of Forestry, University of Oxford.
• P. O. Wolf, Esq., B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E., Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College, University of London.
• N. A. F. Rowntree, Esq., B.Sc., M.I.C.E., Institution of Water Engineers.
• M. Nixon, Esq., M.B.E., T.D., B.Sc., M.I.C.E., A.M.I. Mech. E., River Boards Association.
• R. G. Allen, Esq., Ph.D., F. Inst. P., Water Research Association.
• S. Buchan, Esq., Ph.D., Geological Survey and Museum (D.S.I.R.).
• F. H. Allen, Esq., M.A., M.A.I., M.I.C.E., Hydraulics Research Station (D.S.I.R.).
• B. A. Southgate, Esq., C.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.I.C., F.Inst. S.P., Water Pollution Research Laboratory (D.S.I.R.).