Opening Address

I congratulate The Institution of Civil Engineers and The Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists on having organised this Symposium. We are particularly grateful to the Civil Engineers for having allowed us to meet in this magnificent building.

Yesterday, Ken Roberts and Mike Rouse came to see me at the House of Commons and gave me an advance copy of the ICA Steering Group Report, of which you will all have a copy by now. Those who have produced this report have toiled long and hard - indeed, their work has lasted for more than four years

- but I have no hesitation in saying that it is one of the most lucid, powerful and well presented reports that I have ever read. It is invidious to single out any individuals for special praise, but I do want to pay particular tribute to Ken Roberts, who is one of the great pioneers of ICA in the Water Industry; to Mike Rouse and his colleagues at the Water Research Centre; and to John Cowan, who was the sole but most distinguished consulting engineer.