HL Deb 03 March 1964 vol 256 cc4-5

2.39 p.m.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

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 a decision has been come to on the question of an earmarked grant for the appointment of a special scientist in the United States of America to keep in touch with American research and development into the possibilities of the economic conversion of salt water into fresh.]

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, I am pleased to tell my noble friend that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research have recently offered an earmarked grant of up to £34,325 over three years to the Water Research Association for studies in desalination. This will enable the Association both to keep a closer watch on work in the United States of America and elsewhere by staff visits overseas, and also to commission a study of the economic factors as they affect this country.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he will accept thanks for that decision, which I am sure is greatly in the national interest?

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend how far further co-operation is going to be undertaken with Commonwealth countries which are heavily affected by these problems—for instance, Pakistan?

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, so far international co-operation is effected through the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is to have meetings shortly in Vienna.