§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for permission to abstract water from natural aquifers have been submitted to his Department so far in 1976; how many of these have been approved; and how this compares with the situation in an average year.
§ Mr. Denis HowellApplications for water abstraction licences are made to regional water authorities and the detailed information requested is not available to my Department. However, it is known that the present dry conditions have lead to increased activity in drilling for ground water.