HL Deb 06 July 1896 vol 42 cc752-4

Whereas it is intended that, save as regards the metropolitan water companies, nothing in this Act should affect any existing right or power of any company or body supplying water to any part of the metropolitan water area:

And whereas it may hereafter be found beneficial to vest in the council of any metropolitan county the power to supply water to that county: Be it further enacted, as follows;—

  1. (1.) The council of any metropolitan county may promote a Bill in Parliament for the purpose of providing or controlling (whether by virtue of any agreement with the water board or otherwise) a water supply for their county or any part thereof, and any such Bill may provide for the withdrawal of the representatives of such council from the water board, and for making any consequential alteration in the metropolitan water area and in the provisions of this Act.
  2. (2.) In the event of the water board promoting any Bill in Parliament for the purpose of acquiring or controlling the undertaking of any metropolitan water company, or of procuring a fresh supply of water to any part of the metropolitan water area, the council of any metropolitan county may apply to Parliament for the insertion in such Bill of provisions enabling that council to withdraw their representatives from the water board, and to acquire or control such portion of any undertaking proposed to be acquired or controlled under the Bill as is situate in their county and may reasonably be considered to be exclusively required for the part of the county which was previously supplied by the undertaking, and of provisions for making any consequential alterations of this Act.
  3. (3.) A parish in a metropolitan county, but outside the metropolitan water area, shall, until otherwise provided by Parliament, be exempt from contributing to the expenses incurred by the council of such county in promoting, or opposing, or applying for the insertion of provisions in any Bill above mentioned which does not affect such parish.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

moved, after the words "affect any existing right" to insert the word "interest."

Amendment agreed to.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD moved to insert at the end of the clause after the word "parish" the words— unless the County Council resolve that those expenses shall be defrayed as general expenses.

Amendment agreed to.

On the Motion "That the Bill do pass,"

THE EARL OF ROSEBERY

asked under what clause in the Bill the London County Council were empowered to take control over the district over which it presided.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

said that the noble Earl had quite misunderstood him. By the Transfer Bill the London County Council sought to obtain the power of obtaining the transfer of the Water Companies' powers to themselves, and they had persisted in that demand. By this Bill, an opportunity would be afforded to each community to obtain from the Legislature powers to control their own water area, and the London County Council would have a similar power.

LORD HERSCHELL

said that under the Bill the Water Board would have the power to come to Parliament and get the control of its own water. There was power given to each of the outside counties to separate themselves altogether. If they all did that, it might be said that the London County Council would be left alone to manage their own water.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

They will.

LORD HERSCHELL

Then what is your Bill for?

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

contended that before the proposals in this Bill County Councils had no power to come to Parliament to promote a water Bill. The hon. and learned Lord ought to have that in his mind.

LORD TWEEDMOUTH

The noble and learned Lord is entirely wrong. The County Council has the power to come to Parliament to ask for power to acquire water.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

I was speaking of the County Councils of Middlesex, Surrey, Hertfordshire, and the other counties. You cannot separate the water companies' properties until you can create a power which will allow all the bodies that are to supply the water to come and ask for legislation. Of course the London County Council can do so, but they cannot get rid of the surrounding areas. By allowing them to separate themselves, you allow the London County Council to do what they could not do before, namely, to obtain separation from the surrounding areas.

Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.