§ DR. BREWERasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Board possess any powers of regulating the sources of the water supply of the Metropolis; and, if so, whether he intends to exercise such powers?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUESir, the Board of Trade have no power whatever of regulating the sources of the water supply of the metropolis. The water companies are regulated by their own Acts, subject to this condition—that they shall not take water below Teddington Lock. One of the companies most complained of did take power last year to draw its supply of water higher up the Thames—at Molesey, above the inflow of the Mole.