HL Deb 24 June 1964 vol 259 cc190-2

2.39 p.m.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My Lords, I beg leave 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 whether, in view of the immediate needs for additional cheap water to be supplied to Manchester Corporation, arrangements can be made to fill the Lancaster-Preston Canal from surplus water from the Lune, for extraction, purification and distribution at the Southern end of the Canal near Manchester.]

LORD HASTINGS

My Lords, any such proposal would be for Manchester Corporation to consider in the first place. But I am advised that the amount of water obtainable in this way would be well below the Corporation's short-term needs, as estimated by the Technical Committee of the Conference on Water Resources in the North-West.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is not aware that there are many people who realise that Manchester needs water and yet who, at the same time, do not want further waterworks in the Lake District National Park? Cannot something be done to direct that immediate attention is given by Manchester to these various alternative supplies which, taken together, would be adequate to meet immediate needs?

LORD HASTINGS

My Lords, the Jellicoe Conference, to which I referred by its full title just now, has already carried out a thorough investigation into possible ways of meeting Manchester's short-term requirements. Manchester have now made their choice, and I think any further consideration of alternatives must depend on objections to their proposals being made, which will result in a public inquiry.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, having regard to the suggestion made by my noble friend behind me, and to many other suggestions which are being made, can my noble friend the Minister say whether he has any further information to give us as to when Manchester is going to put in its order?

LORD HASTINGS

I cannot tell the noble Lord specifically, but my right honourable friend has not received its application yet.

LORD HOBSON

My Lords, in view of the very serious shortage of water for industrial purposes in East Lancashire, can the noble Lord say whether the Jellicoe Report considered the requirements of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and was the Minister of Power also consulted, in view of the thousands of millions of gallons required by power stations for cooling purposes?

LORD HASTINGS

I cannot give a straight answer to that question, I am afraid—I should need notice—but I imagine it must have been taken into consideration.

LORD LINDGREN

On the basis of the original Question, is this not a matter for consideration by the Water Resources Board, and can the Minister give any assurance that it is being considered by that Board?

LORD HASTINGS

The Water Resources Board will begin functioning on July 1, so it will be up to them to consider it then.

LORD LINDGREN

May we take it that they will consider it?

LORD HASTINGS

I cannot speak for the chairman.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

And may we take it, my Lords, that, until they have considered it, Manchester will not be able to raid the Lake District?

LORD HASTINGS

I do not think the noble Lord can take that. The Manchester Corporation must apply to my right honourable friend for an order, and my right honourable friend will go through the normal procedure, which I explained to my noble friend on a previous occasion.