§ 18. Lieut.-Colonel Heneageasked the Minister of Health whether further Government grants will be available towards expenses incurred by local authorities in 1883 the extension of rural water supplies; and whether he has any statement to make as to long-term water policy with a view to securing an adequate survey of the country's resources and planned and economic utilisation thereof.
§ Mr. WillinkYes, Sir. The Government propose as part of their general reconstruction programme to introduce legislation empowering them to give further Exchequer assistance for the extension of piped water supplies in rural localities; and I hope it will be possible during the current Session to introduce this legislation which will also extend to sewerage in such areas. I propose also to lay a White Paper as soon as possible outlining the Government's general proposals with regard to water. These will include provision for an adequate scientific assessment of resources and for the control and co-ordination of their use and distribution.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HeneageWill my right hon. and learned Friend consider including in the White Paper consideration of the Milne Report, especially the third report on Rivers Boards?
§ Mr. WillinkYes, Sir. This is rather a separate matter from the question of water supply, but the third report is under consideration, and will be dealt with in the White Paper.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsDoes my right hon. and learned Friend anticipate that the White Paper will be available before the probable early Debate on the Private Water Bills that are before the House this Session?
§ Mr. WillinkI have no information when these Debates, if they do take place, will take place.
§ Sir. H. WilliamsApart from that, does my right hon. and learned Friend think that he can lay the White Paper soon?
| Year. | Deaths from Tuberculosis. | New Cases of Tuberculosis. | |||
| England and Wales. | Scotland. | England and Wales. | Scotland. | ||
| 1938 | … | 26,176 | 3,431 | 58,093 | 7,565 |
| 1939 | … | 25,623 | 3,526 | 53,835 | 7,097 |
| 1940 | … | 28,144 | 4,003 | 54,929 | 7,722 |
| 1941 | … | 28,670 | 4,174 | 59,976 | 8,294 |
| 1942 | … | 25,547 | 3,998 | 60,732 | 9,048 |
§ Mr. TurtonWill the White Paper cover only schemes by local authorities, or will it cover, as well, schemes by persons other than local authorities?
§ Mr. WillinkI think that my hon. Friend must await the White Paper on that subject.
§ Mr. MolsonDoes my right hon. and learned Friend realise that the opposition to these Private Bills is due to the feeling of hon. Members that the matter ought to be dealt with on national lines? Could he, therefore, give some indication when the White Paper will be published?
§ Mr. WillinkI do not want to pledge myself too closely, but my object is to lay the White Paper at, approximately, the same time as the introduction of the Bill I have indicated. It will deal with the whole matter on national lines.