§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drought orders his Department has granted in each year since records began.
§ Mr. BaldrySince 1976, when the Drought Act 1976 brought in the present drought order powers, the Secretary of State for the Environment has made the following numbers of drought orders:
Number 1976 116 1977 nil 1978 17 1979 nil 1980 2 1981 nil 1982 13 1983 5 1984 82 1985 nil 1986 nil 1987 nil 1988 1 1989 74 1990 65 11991 28 1To date. This table corrects a misprint in my answer to the hon. Member of 7 November 1991, Official Report, Vol. 198, column 1. The number of drought orders made by the Secretary of State in 1984 was 82, not 92 as shown in that answer.