§ 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 if they will investigate further possibilities of encouraging the abstraction of water from the lower or pre-tidal reaches of rivers, particularly for the supply of industrial water to the growing estuarial development.]
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, an increasing number of schemes for abstracting water from the lower reaches of rivers have been put forward in recent years and Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the water industry is well aware of the possibilities.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, will the noble Lord bear in mind the advantages of this process? For instance, it would avoid the necessity for using agricultural land and expensive reservoir building; and, where a dam is practicable, it sets back salt water from flowing some miles up the valley.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I am indeed aware of those facts, and so are the authorities who put forward these schemes. That is why they have done it.
§ LORD DYNEVORMy Lords, what is the Government's idea of lower reaches of a river behind tidal waters?
§ LORD MANCROFTNot without notice, I am afraid.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, this is an important question. One is strongly behind the main desires of the noble Earl, Lord Albemarle. We should like to have an answer to that last question, because some local people who want to maintain their oyster fishing industry, ancillary treatment of oysters and the like are interested. If we could have an answer to that question at some time, I should be obliged.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I will certainly make it my business to find out. I should have made it my business to find out even before the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, mentioned oysters; but now I am doubly inspired to do so.