§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of proposed cuts in water supplies for September and October for periods of up to 13 hours per day and the consequent effect on production, employment, food production, prices and exports, he has made any estimate of how this will affect the balance of payments and the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe degree to which water supplies will have to be conserved over the coming months is uncertain and it is not therefore possible to give estimates of the kind that my hon. Friend has in mind. However, any action in this field will take the fullest possible account of the needs of agriculture and industry.