§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he yet sees a reasonable prospect of making progress with a Bill for the greater protection of water supplies, so as to give more extensive powers to local authorities to deal with the water supply of the districts under their control. And, whether he can see his way to bring in a Government Bill making the county Councils (with the exception of the London County Council, which already has such powers) the water authority of their respective districts.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordAs regards the second paragraph of the question, I could not give an undertaking to suggest the county councils as the authority for the purpose in question, and in reply to the first part of the question I cannot say, having regard to the present state of public business, that the prospect of being able to make progress with the Bill referred to is very promising.