asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be in a position to give a final decision concerning the application by the Severn Trent Water Authority to construct a reservoir at Carsington, Derbyshire.

The application has been the subject of a long and complicated inquiry, which has been reopened once and is to be reopened again. It is hoped that the inquiry will be reopened early in the New Year, but it is not possible to say when a decision will be reached.