HC Deb 06 June 1961 vol 641 cc852-3
5. Mr. C. Hughes

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take upon the Report on Water Resources in Wales, Command Paper No. 1331; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

This Report provides a factual assessment of the water resources of Wales, as well as an estimate of the demands likely to be made on them in the foreseeable future. It contains no recommendations calling for specific action on my part, but I am sure it will be very useful to everyone who has a concern with the conservation and use of water resources, myself included.

Mr. Hughes

Now that this Report discloses and confirms that there are vast untapped resources of water in Wales, will the Minister bear in mind that there is a strong body of opinion in the Principality which favours the setting up of a Welsh water board to plan and conserve the distribution of water supplies?

Mr. Brooke

I have been misreported as saying that I would be opposed to any Welsh water board for the whole of Wales. What I in fact said was that I am not myself convinced of the necessity of that, but if Cardiff and Swansea and Newport and all the existing water undertakings think that the job would be best done by handing over responsibility to a Welsh water board, then obviously it would be my duty seriously to consider that proposition.

Mr. Hughes

And in considering Cardiff, Swansea and Monmouth, will the Minister also take into account the views of the rural areas?

Mr. Brooke

I hope, by what I said, that I referred to all the other water undertakings throughout the country, whether or not I specified them. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am at present engaged in trying to get them regrouped into stronger units.