§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, what steps, if any, he has taken under the powers conferred on the Board by the Metropolis Water Act, 1899, to render the supplies of the different companies mutually available in case of emergency, and especially to protect the East End of London against the sufferings and inconvenience experienced in former years.
§ THE PEESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordCommunications have been effected between the mains of the Southwark and Vauxhall and the East London Companies, and between the Grand Junction, the West Middlesex, and the New River Companies. The New River Company is also in communication with the East London Company, and the Kent Company is laying a main to communicate with the Southwark and Vaux- 680 hall Company. The East London Company has since the middle of June been receiving water from the New River and the Southwark and Vauxhall Companies. According to our latest information there was considerably over a thousand million gallons in the reservoirs of the East London Company, and I see no reason to doubt that the measures taken will be effectual to meet the needs of East London during the present summer.