asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received a further report from the National Water Council on the studies on the drought.

I have now received the report which I referred to in my statement of 16th November. It is being published today. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library. I am grateful to the Council for the work that has gone into the preparation of this report, which should prove valuable to all concerned in dealing with any future severe drought. I will study carefully and discuss further with the Council the various recommendations for Government action in the report.