§ 77. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what study Her Majesty's Government are making of Britain's water supplies; what estimate has been made of the consumption per head which will be needed; and how much will actually be available in the form of piped supplies to rural areas and farms in the next twenty years.
§ Sir K. JosephThis matter is under continuous review. Two reports by a Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee on the growing demand for water have been published. In addition, since 1946 surveys have been made of the water supplies of the whole of England and Wales by Engineering Inspectors of my Department. These surveys make suggestions for the development of resources to meet future demands. They are now being supplemented by hydrological surveys of the water resources of certain river basins. The first of these, that for the Great Ouse, has just been published. In assessing future needs, allowance has been made not only for rising consumption per head for domestic use, but also for the rapidly expanding demand for water by industry and agriculture. Water supply schemes in rural areas are designed to keep piped supplies in step with demand.