HC Deb 17 February 1971 vol 811 cc1821-3
24. Sir G. Sinclair

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the technical lead established by the Atomic Energy Authority and Simon Carves Limited in desalination by a freezing process, he will encourage the establishment of a large-scale experimental desalination plant in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peter Walker

I am considering a recommendation from the Water Resources Board for expenditure by the Board of over £1 million for the construction of an experimental plant to test a freeze desalination process. The plant would be commissioned and operated jointly with the Atomic Energy Authority and Simon Engineering Ltd. I expect to give my decision on the Board's recommendation very shortly.

Sir G. Sinclair

I take some enocuragement from that reply. In deciding how far to back this experiment, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, if successful, it could help to call a halt to the progressive inundation of our countryside by reservoirs, could help to avert the water crisis threatened for the South-East in the 1980s, and could make a contribution to the dry coastal areas of the developing countries?

Mr. Walker

Yes, Sir. We face considerable problems in relation to future water resources and the Government will examine every possibility of overcoming them.

Mr. Denis Howell

What is the economic basis of this proposal from the Water Resources Board in terms of the cost per thousand gallons? No reference was made to this on Second Reading of the Water Resources Bill.

Mr. Walker

This is a complicated matter. It depends on the total use made, and so on. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with further information.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that, on existing information, the costs of any desalination programme will render it wildly uneconomic? Will he bring the matter into perspective and say that there is no prospect in the near future of this process resolving our water resources problems?

Mr. Walker

The costs are high, and it would be wrong to give the impression that the process could solve the problems. Nevertheless it is right to go carefully into the question of future research into possible solutions.

Mr. Maclennan

In view of the considerable success of the co-operation between the Atomic Energy Authority and Weir Westgarth on flash distillation, can the right hon. Gentleman say anything about the reasons for the present redundancies at Weir Westgarth and give an assurance that, although the costs may be too high for domestic use, the use of these plants abroad makes research in the field still justifiable?

Mr. Walker

Export potential is obviously a consideration. I should like further notice of the specific point raised by the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Fernyhough

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that, if this experiment turns out to be viable and successful, it will not be completely handed over to private enterprise but that the Atomic Energy Authority will be allowed to retain an interest?

Mr. Walker

I think that the idea, if highly successful, will be handed over to Ipswich Council.