§ 30. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Health whether provision will be made in the Bill, shortly to be introduced, dealing with grants for water supply in rural areas, to enable local authorities and statutory water companies who have a surplus of water within their areas, to supply water in bulk to other areas beyond their authorised limits of supply, with the approval of the Ministry of Health?
Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir. It is considered desirable to limit the scope of the proposed Bill to the authorisation of grant, and not to deal therein with amendments of the general law. A local authority has power now to purchase water from an adjoining local authority.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a number of local authorities and water companies with surplus water, but that, owing to the law at the present time, they are unable to supply adjoining water undertakings which are short of water? Surely there would be no objection in this House to the insertion of a single Clause to deal with that matter?
§ Mr. LEVYDoes not this emphasise the need for regional area control, and is not mal-distribution one of the causes of shortage of water in various areas?
Sir H. YOUNGThe law is substantially as stated by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), but this is a different aspect of the question from that which will be dealt with by the promised legislation. I would call my hon. Friend's attention to the fact that it is covered by a specific Bill which is now being introduced in another place.
§ 51. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health the number of rural local authorities which have submitted requests for financial assistance to provide local water supplies; and whether he has estimated the aggregate cost of regional or local schemes to provide an adequate supply for every local authority in England and Wales?
Sir H. YOUNGSeventy rural local authorities have made inquiries as to the availability of grant. As regards the second part of the question, such an estimate could not be made except in presence of full information as to the cost of schemes.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs there not sufficient evidence to warrant the Minister giving much more substantial encouragement, so that, if necessary, a large instalment of the programme can be put into effect this year?
Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir. I have good reason to suppose that the proposed grants will enable us to get useful work done.