§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) whether he will commission a special study of the 195W use of desalination units to assist in the development of the Middle East;
(2) whether he will commission a study to bring up to date the Johnson plan for the sharing of the Jordan water;
(3) whether he will propose a conference of representatives from all countries in the Middle East to consider an international plan for irrigation and desalination for the development of desert areas.
§ Mr. BottomleyMy Department has all these matters under close study; but as I told my hon. Friend in reply to his Question of 20th June, consideration of any new international programme would clearly have to depend upon a political settlement in the Middle East. —(Vol. 748, c.256.]