§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will now specify the extent of the problem of the water supply for the West Midlands; and how it is proposed to be met.
§ Mr. WilleyThe precise extent of the existing and future demand for water in the West Midlands for all purposes will not be known until the Trent and Severn river authorities have completed the licensing of existing abstractions under Part IV of the Water Resources Act 1963 and made an initial survey of future demands under Section 14. Present consumption from the public water supply is about 175 mgd. The rate of increase is about 3 per cent. per annum, which will be met over the next ten years mainly from the Clywedog reservoir scheme now under construction. The river authorities and the Water Resources Board will need to consider further conservation works beyond that. The Water Resources Board, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I are keeping the matter under review.