§ Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the President of the Local Government Board 538W whether, with a view to conserving, apportioning, or regulating the available water supplies of the country, he will consider the advisability of Parliament setting up a national water authority; or whether, considering the importance of the subject, he will appoint a small Committee of water experts to inquire into and report upon the necessity of such action being taken?
§ Mr. BURNSI have a Bill in preparation touching this question. In the meantime the Local Government Board have been engaged in collecting a large amount of valuable information as to the existing sources of supply. I have appointed a geologist on the staff of the Department with particular reference to this subject. The information gained in this way and also from the researches of the Geological Survey Office cannot fail to be of service in the consideration of questions such as those referred to in the hon. Member's question.