HC Deb 12 November 1968 vol 773 cc199-200
25. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will extend the feasibility study on the Wash Barrage proposal to include the question of major land reclamation for agricultural, urban, and airport development.

Mr. K. Robinson

The Water Resources Board has put in hand a desk study on water conservation within the Wash. They will appraise the case for a full feasibility study and, in consultation with Government Departments and others, will indicate those subjects, including land reclamation, navigation and communications, which might be investigated in the course of such a study.

Mr. Roberts

But would my right hon. Friend agree that the present tuppeny-ha'penny study will achieve very little, and that we have an opportunity, with a worth-while study in the Wash, for possible usage of this land for agricultural purposes, for urban development, and even, perhaps, for solving the problem of a third or fourth London Airport?

Mr. Robinson

I agree that those possibilities are very important, but the Government are satisfied that the best first move is to set in hand this desk study which will carry out its studies as rapidly as possible.