WATER SUPPLIES PROTECTION BILL. [H.L.] [SECOND READING.] (Hansard, 22 March 1910)

§ LORD DESBOROUGH
My Lords, I rise to move, very briefly, the Second Reading of this Bill. There are three reasons why I should be brief. The first is that as recently as August 5 last year your Lordships were good enough to give a Second Reading to this Bill; the second reason is that I have no wish to occupy the time and attention of the House in view of matters of greater moment which are to come before you; and the third, and perhaps the most important reason is that I understand that His Majesty's Government take a more favourable view of this Bill on this occasion than they did last year, and are willing to adopt one of the suggestions thrown out at that time and allow the Bill to be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses. This Bill, which is exactly the same as the one to which your Lordships gave a Second Reading last year, has three objects. The first is the adoption of the clause which has already been inserted in some forty Water Bills and which goes by the name of the Lord Chairman's Clause. The second is to amend the law with regard to underground water by providing that wherever private supplies are injured by the abstraction of water for public supply, by means of future works, the owner shall be entitled to compensation; and the third object is to provide that where, by means of future works, water is taken from any district for supply to communities outside that district, the district whence the water is taken and through which it is conveyed shall be entitled to demand a share of such water for its own needs upon terms to be agreed or fixed by the Local Government Board. I beg to move the Second Reading of the Bill.

§ THE EARL OF VERULAM
My Lords, I do not wish to stand between the House and the important business which is coming on but I do desire most strongly to urge your Lordships to give a Second Reading to this 453 Bill. I know from my own experience that in my own county, the county of Hertfordshire, the whole of the water supply has been reduced by an amount practically exceeding one-half during the last thirty years owing to the pumping operations of great companies. I trust, therefore, that your Lordships will see the important nature of this Bill and give it a Second Reading.

THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL
My Lords, the Government thoroughly agree with the general principle of this Bill. They are only anxious, while attempting to redress this evil, that other difficulties should not be created. The Government have no intention of raising any objection to the Second Reading of this Bill, on the understanding that it should be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses, which would be able to consider the matter generally. It is recognised that in this way the points at issue, which are of very great importance, will be carefully reviewed, and it is hoped that the result of the consideration of them by this Committee may lead to some practical proposals being made to put the matter on a satisfactory footing. I hope, therefore, that your Lordships will read the Bill a second time and acquiesce in the appointment of a Joint Committee to consider it.

§ LORD BELPER
My Lords, I am extremely glad to hear that the Government propose to take this course. I think it is one that I was partly responsible for suggesting during the discussion last year. This question is a very difficult one. A great many points arise with regard to the whole question of underground water which it will be necessary for the Committee to inquire into, and I am satisfied that the method proposed is the only satisfactory way of arriving at a solution.