Written question asked by Chris G Davies (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 January 1996. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Wednesday, 10 January 1996 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: If he will ask the National Rivers Authority to report to him regarding the preparation by the water companies of contingency plans to safeguard water supplies in the event that below average rainfall continues for (a) a further 18 months and (b) longer. - Inc ref to National Rivers Authority report on measures to safeguard public water supplies (in Lib as Dep/3 2530).

Answer: Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask the National Rivers Authority to report to him regarding the preparation by the water companies of contingency plans to safeguard water supplies in the event that below average rainfall continues for (a) a further 18 months and (b) longer. [7929] Mr. Clappison: At the commission of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the National Rivers Authority published on 18 December 1995 a report on measures to safeguard public water supplies. This report reviews water companies' strategies to conserve supplies in the event that below average rainfall continues into 1996 and confirms that the NRA will continue to keep the developing situation under review. My right hon. Friend announced on 1 September a longer-term review of the lessons to be learnt from this summer's drought. The review will include the frequency assumptions for drought, progress with making supply systems flexible enough to cope with local shortage, and the implications of climate change.

Secondary information