WE have had an exceptionally dry spring and areas of the country are again facing water shortages. People in Scotland, Wales and the North-East are well supplied. We have Kielder Reservoir. Our neighbours in Yorkshire, however, are facing yet another crisis.

Why wasn’t more done to retain some of the massive amounts of snow meltwater from the winter? Will the authorities approve more reservoir schemes on our river system for this purpose? When will the water companies finally get to grips with leaking water mains?

If the companies continue in this irresponsible way, are we seriously going to have to consider taking the system back into public ownership?

When are those in Whitehall going to wake up? London and the South-East are the most densely populated areas of Europe and Londoners are running out of fresh water.

Government could take immediate action and move as many civil service jobs out of London and the South-East before there is a real crisis.

Should the coalition be setting itself a target of moving at least one civil service department out of London to Scotland, Wales and the regions every year?

Does migration to London and the South-East need to be put into reverse? All 60 million people in Britain cannot live in London.

Nigel Boddy, Darlington.