HL Deb 19 July 1965 vol 268 cc448-9
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

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 they are able to report any progress in the feasibility study on the desalination of water undertaken by the Atomic Energy Authority and the firm of Weir Westgarth.]

LORD SNOW

My Lords, a design study for a plant to produce 30 million gallons a day has been completed by the Atomic Energy Authority and Weir Westgarth, Limited. This is many times larger than the biggest desalination plant in operation at present anywhere in the world, and the study has shown that plants of this capacity using multi-flash distillation methods are technically feasible. Further work is necessary, however, and a collaborative programme has been agreed and started between the Atomic Energy Authority and Weir Westgarth.

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, which is to some extent encouraging. But considering that British industry has been in the vanguard in the manufacture of land-based distillation plant, would he not agree that the sum of about £1½, million which has been set aside for this research is insufficient when compared with the £70 million which the United States are spending? Can the noble Lord say whether there is any overlapping between research in this country and in the United States, or is research to some extent complementary? I should be most grateful if the noble Lord could enlighten me further on this matter.

LORD SNOW

My Lords, we are constantly in touch with the United States in these fields of research, and in fact we are going to the Washington Conference in October. We think the amount which is being spent by Weir Westgarth and the Atomic Energy Authority is for the moment sufficient to keep us in the prominent place which we are now occupying. If it is not enough, then we shall try to obtain more money.

LORD BA RNBY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he would not agree that expenditure to find a solution to the problem of the desalination of water would be a much more justifiable expense than that of space research?

LORD SNOW

My Lords, I cannot answer for the opinion of Her Majesty's Government on this point, but I think that my own opinions are well known.