§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence the Government have(a) commissioned and (b) assessed regarding reduced water tables in (i) Britain and (ii) internationally. [23689]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology produces monthly summaries of hydrological conditions across the UK, which include groundwater levels. The latest summary indicates that UK groundwater resources are generally very healthy. Internationally, an increasing demand for water is causing a serious decline in water tables in a number of developing countries. The UK Government, through DFID, supports a number of initiatives to encourage the sustainable use, and equitable allocation, of surface and groundwater resources and programmes for enhancing groundwater recharge.