§ 48. Mr. ROSBOTHAMasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many rural parishes are in need of public water supplies; and will he consider taking steps as early as possible to make special grants to rural district councils to enable them to remedy the conditions under which many of the inhabitants obtain their daily supplies?
Sir H. YOUNGI am aware of the inadequacy of the water supply in some rural parishes. Conditions generally have improved in recent years, loans amounting to £2,000,000 in respect of rural schemes having been sanctioned by my Department during the last three years. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot hold out any hope of special assistance being available from the Exchequer, but I may point out that it is open to county councils to contribute to the cost of schemes.