§ WATER CONSERVATION
§ Mr. Arthur JonesI beg to move Amendment No. 24, in page 12, line 25, at end insert
'and without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to this Act a water authority may contribute to the expenses of another water authority under this section'.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this we can also discuss Amendment No. 61, in Clause 22, page 25, line 14, after ' 1974'. insert
'in consultation with any water authority or authorities for an area or areas adjacent to that of the first-mentioned authority'.
§ Mr. JonesThe point I want to raise is to do with Amendment No. 61. That amendment speaks for itself and I hope that my right hon. Friend will be able to accept it.
§ Mr. Graham PageI do not want to accept Amendment No. 24 and I will not therefore spend any time on it. All I need say is that it is unnecessary. The point is already covered. The regional water authorities have the power which it was feared they might not have.
I hope, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that you will allow Amendment No. 61 to be moved formally when we come to it because it is an amendment which can be accepted. My first impression on reading it was that the authority would be crazy if they did not consult their neighbours, and if they did not do so the Secretary of State would probably knock their heads together, so to speak, by using his powers of direction under a later clause. But I see no harm in writing this into the Bill, although I am sure that all reasonable water authorities will carry out exactly what my hon. Friend wishes. If this makes it clearer, let us have it in the Bill.
§ Mr. JonesIn view of what my right hon. Friend said, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.