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<p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England
only.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has a range of policies in place to mitigate the
impacts of drought, including the impact on food supplies and public health:</p><p>
</p><ul><li>The Environment Agency, which has responsibility for managing water resources
and protecting the environment, chairs the National Drought Group (NDG). The NDG consists
of representatives from regulators such as Public Health England (PHE), the agricultural
sector and water companies. This group ensures that all sectors work together and
take action to manage any impacts of dry weather and drought.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Water
companies have the legal duty to supply adequate quantities of wholesome water. To
fulfil their duties, water companies maintain statutory drought plans, which set out
the short-term actions they will take should a drought develop. Water companies’ drought
plans are published on their websites.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The impacts of drought
on food supply are mitigated by the UK’s robust and reliable food industry, which
is experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply, from adverse
weather damaging crops to transport issues abroad. The size and diversity of the industry
is a key factor in enabling the food sector to remain resilient to food supply chain
disruptions. The expertise, capability, levers and resilience to plan for and respond
to food supply disruption lies within the industry.</p><p> </p><p>The health effects
of drought are primarily indirect, including: injury, risk to public and private water
supply; dust-related problems for those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular
disease; and impacts on mental health and wellbeing. PHE specifically plans for the
risks of hot weather, including drought, in the Heatwave and Summer preparedness programme
of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-plan-for-england"
target="_blank">Heatwave Plan for England -</a> which became operational in June 2020.</p>
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