HC Deb 18 February 1969 vol 778 c63W
Mr. James Scott-Hopkins

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to prohibit river authorities from demanding payment from mills which are not extracting water from a river or changing it in any respect but are only using it to drive machinery.

Mr. K. Robinson

No. Some mills have certain rights to a constant flow of water, and I do not think it unfair that they should pay a small contribution to the river authority's operations.