§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the recent dislocation of water supplies experienced in the central areas of Leeds; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenOn 10 December 1985 a 42in water main, laid in 1871 from sources north of Leeds to Headingley, burst. The Yorkshire water authority had to close down two other parallel mains to allow repair, which proved to be unusually difficult. It was completed early on 13 December. Temporary loss of 40 per cent. of supplies to Leeds meant that up to 200,000 pople were without normal supplies which could not be restored fully until 15 and 16 December because it was necessary to recharge the system very slowly. Emergency supplies from water tankers and standpipes were provided with military assistance from 11 to 16 December. Co-operation between the Yorkshire water authority, the armed forces, Leeds city council, the emergency services, the area health authority and neighbouring water authorities was very good and all the agencies concerned deserve credit for their efforts to overcome this unusual emergency. An internal inquiry by board members and the chairman of the central division consumer consultative committee is being mounted immediately into the cause of the burst and the measures taken to deal with it. The findings will be made public.