HC Deb 09 May 1973 vol 856 cc106-7W
48. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the use of North Sea oil for the distillation of water from the sea, thereby conserving fresh water resources.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

So long as demand can be met at much lower cost by conserving rainfall, desalination is unlikely to make a significant contribution to water resources in England and Wales. This is evident from the research and experimental work upon desalination processes, and from the studies made by the Water Resources Board of the likely demand for water up to the end of the century and how this could be met.