§ 33. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Health the number of loans of £50,000 and under sanctioned by the Ministry for sewage and water works in England and Wales during the six months ended 30th June, 1931, and the six months ended 30th June, 1932, respectively, also the aggregate amount of such loans, respectively; and whether these loans were sanctioned on the ground that the works were necessary in the interest of the public health and well being?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)The figures are, for the first six months referred to, 959 loans for a total sum of £4,450,000; for the second six months, 645 and £2,460,000. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative. Many of the schemes were carried out with the aid of an unemployment grant.
§ Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEMight I ask if the right hon. Gentleman does not agree that it is false economy to withhold sanction to these loans if in doing so it jeopardises the health of the people?
§ Sir H. YOUNGThat, I think, is an obvious proposition.
§ Mr. MICHAEL BEAUMONTDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is by no means always the case that withholding of sanction to such schemes endangers the health of the people?
§ Sir H. YOUNGThat is also perfectly true.