§ Mr. G. Johnson Smithasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the present volume of supply and demand for water in England and Wales, and the estimated supply and demand in the years 1970, 1975 and 1980.
§ Mr. MacCollComprehensive information about supply and demand for water in England and Wales for all purposes will not be available until the river authorities set up under the Water Resources Act 1963 have completed the licensing of existing abstractions under Part IV of the Act and have made an initial survey of future demands.
In 1963, the quantity taken from the public supply was about 2,500 million gallons per day. The demand made on the public supply has been growing at an average rate of 3 per cent. per annum over the last decade.
It will be the duty of the river authorities to prepare successive estimates of demands, normally for twenty years ahead, and to formulate proposals for water conservation works in order to ensure that adequate supplies are available.