§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to introduce legislation to control abstraction of water from rivers for spray irrigation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerPowers to control abstraction of water from rivers for spray irrigation purposes are already available in the Spray Irrigation (Scotland) Act 1964. I am aware, however, that these have not been found wholly adequate and I accept the need to introduce amending legislation when a place can be found in the parliamentary timetable. Meanwhile I am considering whether the present procedures can be simplified within the framework of the 1964 Act.