MR. BROWNasked the President of the Local Government Board, If his attention has been directed to the polluted condition of the water supply for domestic purposes in some of the rural parts of the Country, and what step he has or intends to take to remedy the evils?
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTH,in reply, said, he was sorry the hon. Gentleman had been prevented the other evening from bringing that very important subject under the notice of the House, as he 7 should then have been glad to reply to him in greater detail than he should be permitted to do in answer to a Question. His (Mr. Sclater-Booth's) attention had undoubtedly been directed to the polluted condition of the water supply in some rural districts of the country—first, by the greatdistress occasioned by the Water Famine in 1874; secondly, by the constant Reports he had received as to the mischief arising from the inadequate supply of water and its polluted condition in some parts of the country; and thirdly, by a deputation of a very influential and important character, introduced by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Edinburgh (Mr. Lyon Playfair). That deputation desired that the Government should appoint a Royal Commission on the subject. The matter had been very carefully considered, but they had come to the conclusion that no Royal Commission was necessary, as already they possessed ample information. The hon. Gentleman asked what steps he (Mr. Sclater-Booth) had taken or intended to take to remedy the evils. He had passed two Bills through Parliament on the subject, in each of which greater facilities had been given to authorities both rural and urban for the supply of water. In 1874 powers were given for the purchase of water rights, and in 1875 those powers were increased; the sanitary authority being enabled to acquire those rights outside his district with a view to conduct water purchased elsewhere to places within their district. The rural sanitary authorities were rapidly awakening as to the necessity of exercising those improved powers. In the year 1873 no larger sum than £1,992 was sanctioned by the Local Government Office to be raised by loan in the rural districts; in 1874 that amount had increased to £16,628; in 1875 to £31,274; and in the current year, so far as it had gone, £23,000 had been sanctioned to be raised for the same purpose. These sums were large relatively to the necessities of different localities, some of which required only two or three hundred pounds. Further, he had framed and introduced the Pollution of Rivers Bill—the effect of which would be to give pure water to many rural districts. The amelioration of the condition of the large rivers would be a matter of more gradual progress.