§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change has taken place over the past 10 years in the proportion of water extracted from boreholes rather than directly from watercourses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn the 10 years to 1989, the water available for public supply from boreholes in Scotland increased from 0.4 to 1.6 per cent. of the available yield from all public sources. Surface water sources provide for over 96 per cent. of all Scottish public water supplies, the remainder coming from boreholes or springs.