§ MR. GROVESI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the danger to the inhabitants of Knutsford. Cheshire, arising from the pollution of their water supply; that the medical officer of health to the Urban District Council has warned such council that Knutsford was liable to an epidemic similar to that which visited Maidstone, and that such opinion has been confirmed by an independent expert; and, seeing that the Council have taken no steps to stop such pollution or to secure a pure supply of water, whether he will take proceedings to compel the Council to fulfil their duties; whether, in view of the application to Parliament for borrowing powers by the Knutsford. Light and Water Company, he will see that conditions are imposed to compel the Company to fulfil their obligations, and to obtain their supply of water from an unpolluted source.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)I am aware of the complaints which have been made as to the water supply of Knutsford. The Local Government Board have been in frequent communication with the Urban District Council with regard to it, who state that they feel the responsibility of their position, but that they 357 consider that they have taken every practicable step in their power for the safety of the inhabitants of their district. I am still in correspondence with them on the subject. I have no control over the Company by whom the water is supplied; but at my suggestion the District Council have placed before the Board of Trade the facts as to the alleged pollution of the supply, so that the same may be considered in connection with the application of the Company to that Department for a Provisional Order to enable them to raise additional capital.