§ SIR HENRY ROSCOE (Manchester, S.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the letters which have recently appeared in The Times newspaper on the question of the water supply of this country; and, whether, in view of the opinions expressed by Sir John Lawes and other eminent authorities as to the possible danger of a water famine occurring during dry summers, and in view of the vast importance of the question of the proper storage of water throughout the Kingdom, the Government will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire and report to Parliament on the whole question?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)My 878 attention has been called to the letters which have appeared in The Times on the question of the water supply of this country. The question is, undoubtedly, an important one; but it would be impossible for any steps to be taken now which could affect the water supply of the ensuing summer. Looking to the fact that large sums of money have in late years been borrowed by Local Authorities for the purpose of providing water in the districts for which they are responsible, the Government hardly think that a Royal Commission, such as is suggested by the hon. Member, is at present advisable. I may state, for the information of the hon. Member, that in 1884 the Local Authorities obtained powers to spend £750,000 to obtain water; in 1885, £1,613,000; and in 1886, £1,741,000; so that in three years £4,000,000 have been authorized for the purpose of water supply.