§ MR. RITCHIEPerhaps the House would like to know the names of the Commissioners appointed on the Royal Commission to consider the question of the Metropolitan Water Supply. They are:—Lord Balfour of Burleigh (Chairman). Sir George Barclay Bruce, C.E., Professor James Dewar, F.R S., Sir Archibald Geikie, Mr. George Henry Hill, C.E., Mr. James Mansergh, C.E., and Dr. William Ogle, M.D., F.R.C.P. The terms of the Reference are as follows:—
Whether, taking into consideration the growth of the population of the Metropolis, and the districts within the limits of the Metropolitan Water Companies, and also the needs of the localities not supplied by any Metropolitan Company, but within the watersheds of the Thames and the Lea, the present sources of supply of these Companies are adequate in quantity and quality, and, if inadequate, whether such supply as may be required can be obtained within the watersheds referred to, having due regard to the claims of the districts outside the Metropolis, but within those watersheds, or will have to be obtained outside the watersheds of the Thames and the Lea.