HC Deb 17 October 1968 vol 770 cc555-6
8. Mr. Tudor Watkins

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider directing the Water Resources Board to limit its study of the demands and resources in Wales and the Midlands to those areas of Breconshire and Radnor-shire where there are proposals for reservoirs contemplated, to issue an interim report as soon as is possible and to recommend to the various river authorities not to proceed with their demands for the time being.

Mrs. White

No, Sir. This is the last of three studies covering the whole of England and Wales and these widely based studies are essential to enable the Board to fulfil its responsibilities as national planners of water resources. My hon. Friend can expect that the Board will make its views known on any proposals relating to reservoirs in particular localities in the course of the thorough examination and public inquiry to which such proposals would be subject.

Mr. Watkins

What advice do my right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend receive from the Welsh Advisory Committee which deals with water supplies? What I am anxious about is that the river authorities appear to be looking for water within their own areas instead of elsewhere, where there is not such good agricultural land.

Mrs. White

The Usk River Authority has applied to my right hon. Friend for an order to confer on it compulsory powers to make a survey in a part of my hon. Friend's constituency, but this will be the subject of a public inquiry, and we have every expectation that the full facts will be laid before the public at that inquiry.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

In the Welsh debate on Tuesday the question of water was discussed. Could the Government go a good deal further than they did on that occasion and tell us whether they have any large-scale plans in regard to barrages or with regard to experimentation with desalination, because the problem of the flooding of the Welsh valleys is a very great one?

Mrs. White

We are aware of both methods of dealing with the problem, but that goes very wide of the Question.