§ 44. Mr. Alexander Walkdenasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Wisbech Waterworks Company, which has the prerogative of supplying the parishes of Tydd and Newton but has resisted all applications from the inhabitants for a supply to be provided, is seeking to prevent an adjoining water undertaking from giving a supply to these parishes; and whether he will insist upon water being provided without delay in view of the loss of time and danger to health involved under present circumstances.
§ Mr. WillinkI understand that the Wisbech rural district council have applied to the Wisbech Waterworks Company, within whose statutory limits of supply the parishes of Tydd and Newton are included, for their consent to proposals whereby the district council would supply these two parishes with water obtained from the adjoining rural district of East Elloe, and that the company have now invited the Council to discuss the matter with them. I am awaiting the result of this discussion. I propose in any case to direct a local inquiry to be held into the council's proposals before coming to any decision whether the scheme (which the council have already submitted to me) can be allowed to proceed at the present time.
§ Mr. A. WalkdenWill the Minister be kind enough to urge expedition in this matter, in view of the fact that farmers have suffered a great loss of time and expense in carting water throughout the long period of drought?
§ Mr. WillinkI am anxious to do so but the Council sent me their proposals only on the 18th of this month.