Loch Lomond (Hansard, 31 January 1962)

§ 39. Mr. Steele
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations the working party, set up to examine water supplies for Central Scotland, has had with the County Council of Dunbartonshire and other interested parties regarding the scheme to supply water from Loch Lomond.

§ Mr. Galbraith
The local water authorities primarily concerned, including Dunbarton County Council, are directly represented on this working party, which has also kept in touch with other authorities less directly affected.

§ Mr. Steele
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this suggestion has already caused great concern locally? Is he further aware that any intention to ride roughshod over other interests, particularly fishing and boating interests, will be strongly opposed?

§ Mr. Galbraith
There is no question of riding roughshod over anyone; the matter is still under consideration.

§ Mr. Short
Will the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland represent to his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government that this proposal is on all fours with the proposal of the Manchester Corporation to extract water from Ullswater? Would the Government—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is a different question, and a different Minister.

§ Mr. Short
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The principle is the same—

§ Mr. Speaker
The rules of order are also the same.

§ Mr. Short
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker—

§ Mr. Speaker
I do not think that was a point of order. If the hon. Member has another one, I will hear him.

§ Mr. Short
What I suggest is that a new principle is emerging; and that in both Scotland and England large local authorities are now wanting to extract water from large and beautiful lakes of which a great deal of social use is made. It is the same principle.

§ Mr. Speaker
I understand the hon. Gentleman's argument, but I do not think that it helps very much on the material point of order.