§ 7. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps Manchester Corporation have taken to supplement their water supply from underground sources such as disused mines; and what consideration has been given to the storage underground instead of on the surface of surplus or flood water from the Lake District.
§ Mr. CorfieldBoth expedients were examined by the Conference on Water Resources in the North West which reported last April, and the first was examined separately by the Corporation. The conclusion was that neither expedient offered prospects of securing any large addition to existing supplies.
§ Sir W. WakefieldIs not my hon. Friend aware that in the last 200 years thousands of millions of tons of coal and minerals have been excavated from under ground in the north of England? Does he really suggest that, as a result of this tonnage having been excavated, there is not adequate underground storage space available for the pumping into these artificial underground reservoirs of the floodwater from rivers in the north of England at appropriate times?
§ Mr. CorfieldI can only tell my hon. Friend that the Manchester Corporation examined no fewer than 34 coal mines and arrived at the conclusion that even if all of them were used only 13 million gallons a day would be available, whereas the immediate requirements of the Corporation are in the neighbourhood of an extra 50 million gallons a day. It is also, under present conditions, immensely expensive to extract from 34 different sources and to treat the water which may vary from one source to another.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuHas no national survey been made recently 699 about the huge underground deposits of water that exist, or are believed to exist, in this country, apart from in disused coal mines?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe Geological Survey carries out surveys of this sort. One of the main purposes of the Water Resources Bill, which is before the House, is to ensure that these matters are investigated on a national basis. I think that probably one of the difficulties in the past has been that there has been no one authority responsible for this operation.
§ 8. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in the storage of water underground instead of on the surface to meet the rapidly increasing water needs for agriculture, industry and domestic purposes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CorfieldAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to a Question by myhon. Friend on 16th July, this technique will be studied by the Water Resources Board and the river authorities to be established under the Water Resources Bill. Some experimental work has been carried out already, but it is too early to say whether geological conditions in this country will prove suitable for the use of the technique on any considerable scale.
§ Sir W. WakefieldIn view of the very great need, does not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is essential that this question of the examination of underground water storage possibilities should be pressed on with all speed? Is it not ridiculous that planning boards should talk about extracting water from the sea, and expensive methods of that kind, when there must be enormous possibilities of storing water underground, using it appropriately for industry, agriculture and domestic needs?
§ Mr. CorfieldMy hon. Friend's remarks underline the importance of the Bill which, we hope, will be disposed of between now and about this time tomorrow—and I hope that my hon. Friend will stay and help us to do so.