WATER UNDERTAKINGS BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 9 June 1943)

§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA AND BURMA (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)
My Lords, in view of the important matter which is on the Order Paper for discussion directly after the Second Reading of this Bill, I shall not detain your Lordships for more than one moment. This Bill is practically similar to a measure introduced in your Lordships' House in 1939. That Bill was ultimately withdrawn during the course of its journey through another place owing to the outbreak of war. Both these Bills are based on the Report of the Central Advisory Water Committee presided over by the noble and gallant Field Marshal, Lord Milne. The recommendations which were made in that 941 Report will be found in the Bill. My noble friend's Committee further expressed the view that a Bill should be passed into law now before the introduction of further legislation, which will be much wider in scope and which is designed to deal with major matters of Policy. It is the intention of His Majesty's Government to bring forward further proposals in due course, and in framing them the important recommendations contained in my noble friend's first Report and in his third Report, which we hope shortly to receive, will be taken into consideration. It is not necessary for me at this stage to delay your Lordships further, and I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)
My Lords, I am only going to say one word in support of my noble friend's observations. A similar Bill, as he told your Lordships, passed through this House just before war broke out. That stopped any further proceedings, but that Bill, like many others emanating from the Ministry of Health, was submitted to a Joint Select Committee of your Lordships' House and another place, of which I had the honour to be Chairman. This Committee sat six days, going into the whole thing thoroughly, and the Report was then received by your Lordships' House. It has been the practice hitherto for all these Bills of a consolidating and amending character to be submitted to a Joint Select Committee of the two Houses, and probably in the ordinary course your Lordships would think fit to suggest that the same method should be followed in the present instance; but the Amendments to this Bill have already been made by a Select Committee, after all parties have been heard, and I do not think your Lordships would wish at the present juncture to refer it again to a Select Committee. I should not say that the Amendments which I have had the opportunity of seeing are of an unimportant character, but they are drafting, and can adequately be discussed on the floor of your Lordships' House.

§ LORD HEMINGFORD
My Lords, I wish to make a very few remarks only after what has been said by the noble 942 Earl, all of which I thoroughly endorse. This Bill is, to my mind, overdue. It is true that it would have been passed had it not been for the outbreak of war, but it has been very much wanted since the war broke out. A great deal of work which has been thrown on both Houses in connexion with water undertakings during the war would have been saved if this Bill had been in operation as an Act. I have not considered the point very carefully, but I am inclined to agree that there is probably no need to refer this Bill to a Joint Select Committee. There are, however, one or two matters of some substance which will require very careful consideration and, in my view, considerable amendment. I want to call attention particularly to one, and that is the question of compensation water. That is the subject of a minority report or memorandum by Mr. Richard Beddington in the second Report of the Central Advisory Water Committee. If, between now and the Committee stage, your Lordships would look at Mr. Beddington's observations, you will see the importance that should be attached to compensation water. I am a little doubtful of the advisability of enabling that, among other provisions contained in the Schedule, to be attached compulsorily to existing Acts after a period of five years has elapsed. I shall not go into the merits of the question further now, because it is really a Committee point, but I mention that as one matter which is far more than a matter of drafting. It is a point of considerable importance which deserves attention.
There is another little point which seems to stand out at once in the Bill and which will, I hope, be treated by the Government as only a matter of drafting. But it is one of very great importance, concerning the question of pollution. Clause 8. contains certain provisions for the protection of water from pollution. It is there provided that bathing, washing articles, and so on in waterworks belonging to statutory water undertakers should be an offence. In the case of the majority of water undertakings, comparatively few of the sources of supply belong to the undertakers. This may be purely a drafting point but, as I say, it is one of very great importance. Questions of pollution are of much importance, and whatever form this particular clause may take ultimately, it should apply to all sources of supply which are used by undertakers, whether 943 these actually belong to them or not. I am afraid there may be a good many other points, perhaps not much more than drafting, but if this Bill is not to be referred to a Select Committee, I would particularly ask that the many members of your Lordships' House who have some experience of the working of water undertakings should pay some attention to this Bill before the Committee stage.