Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of drought on the economy of the North West; and what steps he is taking to help mitigate that impact.

We are taking action to mitigate the impacts by:

• Working closely with the water companies to ensure that they implement their statutory drought plans. We expect water companies to be undertaking extra leakage activity and enhanced communications with their customers to use less water.
• We have convened the National Drought Group which includes senior decision-makers from across Government and principal drought stakeholders. It provides a cross-sector strategic steer on drought management in England
• Publishing irrigation forecasts for the agricultural sector and providing advice to farmers and growers so they can assess and plan their water needs this summer.
• Working with fishery owners to ensure plans are in place to manage dry weather.