§ Sir T. Beamishasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he is seeing the four main local authority associations to discuss the reorganisation 397W of water and sewage disposal services; what discussions he has had with the National Farmers' Union on this subject; and if, in view of the amount of consultation held and the criticisms that have been made of his proposals, he will postpone this reorganisation until there is a greater measure of agreement.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsNo. The timetable is determined by the timetable for local government reorganisation and the principle of all-purpose regional water authorities, which was put forward after full consideration of the Central Advisory Water Committee's report, has met with widespread agreement. The extensive consultations we have held have been about the detailed application of that principle and they have included discussions at official level with the National Farmers' Union. A number of matters are under review in the light of those consultations. It would be unrealistic, however, to expect agreement on all aspects of the proposals among the many interests concerned.
I would also refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 26th July, 1972 to my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine).—[Vol. 841, c. 296.]