§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how Section 14 of the Water Act, 1945, has been applied in regard to extractions in the London Basin from wells and boreholes; and whether the new mammoth buildings receive the right to a proportionately greater extraction rate on their predecessors' site.]
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, Under Section 14 of the Water Act, 1945 (which has been amended by Section 5 of the Water Act, 1948), my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing may make Orders defining areas in which special measures for the conservation of water are necessary in the public interest. In such areas, with certain limited exceptions, a licence must be obtained from my right honourable friend before any new well or borehole is sunk, or the capacity of an existing one is increased, for the purpose of abstracting additional quantities of water. If the London Basin is taken as being the area of the chalk extending approximately from St. Albans in the North to Croydon in the South, and from Romford in the East to Windsor in the West, the whole of it is covered by Orders so made. The Government are aware of the decline of underground water levels resulting from over-pumping in the London Basin and applications for licences are very critically examined. Only in quite exceptional circumstances would licences now be granted for abstraction anywhere in the built-up area of London, and there is no question of greater rights of extraction in relation to new buildings.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for his careful answer. Nevertheless, is he aware that over-pumping is still increasing, and, therefore, has his right honourable friend the Minister measures in view to withstand the further entry of salt water, owing to the progressive lowering of the water table? Perhaps the noble Earl would kindly let me have a Written Answer, as it may not be convenient to answer further now.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, as I said in my first reply to my noble friend, the Government are well aware of the decline of the underground water levels resulting from over-pumping. That, of course, is the reason why my right honourable friend examines all these licences with great care. But I will certainly go into the question of the sea-water which my noble friend mentioned in the course of his supplementary question.