§ Lords Amendment: No. 4, in page 4, line 8, leave out "three" and insert "four";
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
The amendment increases the maximum number of members who may be appointed to a regional water authority by the Minister of Agriculture. After discussions, it has now been agreed that in the case of the three largest authorities, the Anglian, Severn-Trent, and Thames, the Minister will appoint four members; in the case of the two middle-sized authorities, the North-West and Yorkshire, he will appoint three members; and in the case of the four smaller authorities, Northumbrian, Southern, South-West, and Wessex, he will appoint two members.
§ Mr. Denis HowellWe are glad that the size of the authorities is being increased, especially having regard to the geographical extent of the authorities, and we have no objection to the agricultural interests having greater representation, but I wonder whether the Minister has considered representations from other interests. Is he satisfied that the balance has been adequately maintained between the agricultural interests on the one hand and the domestic, industrial and local authority user interests on the other hand?
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI can give the hon. Member the assurance that we took that very carefully into account. He will see that the increase in the number of appointments by the Minister of Agriculture is entirely in relation to the three authorities, Anglia, Severn-Trent, and Thames, where there is a very extensive agricultural interest.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.