§ 3.5 p.m.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what encouragement is given to industry to use or install equipment which enables water for cooling or other purposes to be re-circulated, so reducing demand on water undertakers for extensive or costly new works.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (LORD MITCHISON)My Lords, there is constant effort by statutory water undertakers to ensure, by encouraging re-circulation and by other means, that consumers do not misuse or waste water. The Water Resources Board and the river authorities will also have this much in mind. The scope for re-use of water by industry varies from firm to firm, but a great deal is done already. Given the general cheapness of water in the country, however, the provision by all industrial consumers of arrangements for re-use would be economically wasteful.