HC Deb 15 March 1945 vol 409 cc400-1W
Mr. Price

asked the Lord President of the Council whether consideration has been given to establishing one central water research laboratory, to which all water undertakings could contribute for furthering research which is common to their interests.

Mr. Attlee

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, through its Water Pollution Research Organisation, already serves as a central research organisation for the study of problems inherent to the supply of water both for domestic and industrial purposes. Many water and other undertakings already contribute valuable help to this work, which the Department proposes to extend after the war. In addition, the Geological Survey of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research can provide, for water undertakings, advice about underground water supplies, based on its study of geological data. Such information will be considerably enlarged if the powers sought in Clause 7 of the Water Bill are conferred by Parliament.