HC Deb 06 July 1970 vol 803 cc295-7
Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what his plans are for a Dee Crossing and the building in the estuary of fresh water reservoirs.

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Thomas)

Engineering and related studies which are now in progress are likely to be completed early in 1971. These must be carefully analysed before decisions can be taken.

Mr. Tilney

Although no Celt, but coming from a city which likes to consider itself the capital of North Wales, may I be the first to congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend on his new post? May I ask whether he will expedite the decision on this imaginative, multi-purpose scheme over which the previous Government prevaricated for so long, especially having regard to the large numbers of unemployed in the construction industry?

Mr. Peter Thomas

I agree that one must try to reach a decision as quickly as possible. My hon. Friend will appreciate that major issues of policy and finance are involved, and it is important that the most careful consideration be given to the varied and far-reaching implications before a firm decision is reached.

Mr. George Thomas

May I extend the traditional Parliamentary courtesy of welcoming the right hon. and learned Gentleman to his place, and give him a friendly warning that fresh water reservoirs are a very dangerous subject in Wales? May I say that I gave a considerable—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] It is not easy. One has to start all over again. It is a hard road. Is the Secretary of State aware that this subject is one that is bound to take a considerable time and that his hon. Friend appears still to be fighting the General Election, with his charges of prevarication, because if I had been at the Welsh Office today I should have given the same Answer as he gave?

Mr. Peter Thomas

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind remarks. I agree that there are many factors to be considered. We shall wish to give the most careful consideration to all the matters involved, but we hope that we can reach a decision, or move towards a decision, some time next year.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I join in the congratulations which have been proffered to my right hon. and learned Friend. I in no way wish to derogate from the right of my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) to interfere in these matters, but will my right hon. and learned Friend remember that the people in the Wirral, too, are interested in this matter and are not prepared altogether to be guided by the interests of Liverpool?

Mr. Peter Thomas

I appreciate that. The people of North Wales are vitally interested, and my concern is to see that their interests are safeguarded.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

May I, too, congratulate the right hon. and learned Gentleman and wish him well, personally? Can he say whether, in his fresh consideration of these important proposals, he will give new consideration to the possibility of siting the proposed new nuclear power station in Edern, in Caernarvonshire, rather than at Connahs Quay, on Deeside?

Mr. Peter Thomas

The siting of the nuclear power station is an important consideration and it must be looked at.

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