§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is to be gained by delaying appointments to the Water Resources Board.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD HASTINGS)My Lords, the Board has to be in operation by the time the river authorities, which are to be established under the Water Resources Act, 1963, come into existence. This, it is hoped, will be in the autumn. There is no question, therefore, of the appointments having been delayed. My right honourable friend will ensure that they are made in good time.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Although it is not his Department, I think he must be aware that the interim Waterways Board have asked for consultation with other water authorities no fewer than three times. Would he not think, therefore, that an earlier appointment of some experts on these subjects would be a wise thing?
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, I think that the noble Earl's supplementary almost refers to his second Question, which he is going to put in a moment, but I can assure him that there is going to be no delay in appointing the Water 754 Resources Board. It will be appointed as soon as possible.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, is the noble Lord not aware that already, in February, there is a great anxiety about future water supplies? No doubt he has heard the announcement on the wireless news of the position in Nottingham, which is perhaps a little more favourably placed than the Eastern counties farther South. The water shortage is already great, yet almost towards the end of what is going to be described as the driest winter for a hundred years nothing seems likely to be able to be done until the Government have appointed the people required to be appointed under the Act which the noble Lord mentioned. Something ought to be done about this now.
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, I must point out that it was made clear, during the course of the Bill which is now the Water Resources Act, that it was never intended that either the new river authorities or the Water Resources Board should be appointed by now. There are still river boards which are functioning in the usual way, and there is no reason to suppose that there is any exceptional crisis on account of the lack at this moment of the appointment of a central Water Resources Board.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord, but would he not consult his right honourable friend as to whether he could make a statement to this House on the present situation of water supplies, and what is being done about it?
§ LORD HASTINGSYes, my Lords, I will certainly do that.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEhad given notice of his intention to ask the following Question:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise that the water problem would benefit from periodic conferences between the Waterways and the Water Resources Boards which have many similar duties.
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, I beg leave not to ask the second Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.