asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the effect of the Government's economy measures on the construction programme for the Kielder reservoir.

The new water authorities will take up their responsibilities on 1st April 1974 and they have been given financial allocations within which they would be expected to decide the priority schemes for their own areas. Meanwhile any application by the Northumbrian River Authority to place contracts as an exceptional case will be treated sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the order relating to the building of the Kielder dam will be presented to Parliament.

Considerable progress has been made towards finalising the provisions of the order. There are still, however, some outstanding issues including protective provisions for statutory undertakers. Their parliamentary agents are discussing these with the undertakers concerned.