§ MR. REGINALD LUCAS (Portsmouth)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the alleged prospect of a general failure of the water supply of the country; and whether the matter is engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government.
(Answered by Mr. Grant Lawson) There does not appear to be any prospect of a general failure of the water supply of the country. There was a deficiency of rainfall during the year 1904, and it was continued during the first two months of the present year. This has caused a shortage of water in some parts of the country where the supply is obtained from superficial sources; but the rain of the last few weeks may be expected to replenish these sources.