§ 20. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to resist the use of good agricultural land in hill areas or elsewhere for reservoirs and to promote desalination, and underground and barrage storage schemes.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartIn accordance with general Government policy for safeguarding agricultural land my right hon. Friend will continue, in consultation with his right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, to ensure so far as possible that good agricultural land is not taken for reservoirs when land of a lower quality is 323W available. The Government are investigating all possible alternative methods of water conservation.