THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to provide for the establishment of river authorities and a Water Resources Board, to confer on them, and on the Minister of Housing and Local Government, new functions in relation to water resources in England and Wales, and to provide for the transfer to river authorities of functions previously exercisable by river boards and other bodies; to make further provision for controlling the abstraction and impounding of water, for imposing charges in respect of licences to abstract or impound water, and for securing the protection and proper use of inland waters and water in underground strata; to enable corresponding provision to be made in relation to the Thames and Lee catchment areas and certain other areas in or adjacent to London; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a first time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 1a.—(Earl Jellicoe.)
§ On Question, Bill read 1a, and to be printed.