§ Mr. MACLEAN (Bath)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is now in a position to state his intentions with regard to the representations made to him last session as to the urgent need for an inquiry into the necessity for the protection and development of water-gathering grounds and other sources of water supply, the allocation of such sources on a comprehensive and equitable basis, and the general control and supervision of this subject by a central and properly qualified body or Department.
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. John Burns, Battersea)I have had under consideration the recommendations made in the third Report of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal, with regard to the prevention of the pollution of water and other matters such as those referred to in the Question, and I had 680 hoped that it would be practicable for me to propose legislation on the subject during the present session. I am afraid, however, that, looking to the demands on the time of the House for other business, it will not be possible to proceed with the matter this year; but I shall not lose sight of it.