§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the quality of the drinking water supplied to London, and particularly to the fact that the inhabitants of East London are daily drinking, as water, some 2,000,000 gallons of sewage effluent; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaMy attention has been called to this subject. I am aware that it is desirable that further steps should be taken to safeguard the supply of water from the Lee from the possibility of contamination. The Metropolitan Water Board included in a Bill promoted by them this session proposals with this 241 object, but they have, as I understand, withdrawn this part of the Bill, and I am in communication with them in relation to the matter. I may, however, state that I learn from the Water Examiner that the water supplied in the East London District during the past winter (consisting mainly of filtered Lee water) was clear and of good quality.