§ 17. Sir Stanley Reedasked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to give early sanction for the construction of a workable disposal unit, by the Colne Valley Sewerage Board, so as to permit the Amersham Rural District Council to proceed with the 300 houses scheduled for this area as soon as labour and materials are available.
§ Mr. WillinkI am afraid that I can hold out no hope that permission will be given to begin the Colne Valley Sewerage-Board's constructional programme until after the end of the war in Europe. I understand that the Board are advised that it is not practicable to construct a sewage disposal unit dealing solely with sewage from the Amersham rural district. Consequently, facilities for disposing of the Amersham sewage will not be available until the first instalment of the board's programme, which comprises the disposal works and such trunk sewers as are required to pass an adequate volume of sewage to the works to enable them to-function satisfactorily, has been completed.
§ Sir S. ReedDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that this area is comparatively ready, and that it only needs the construction of the sewage disposal works to make a very large area immediately available for houses?
§ Mr. WillinkYes, Sir, and the Board has been given definite assurance that this, scheme will be given a high priority at the earliest possible moment; but it may be that temporary arrangements will have-to be made for the first year or two.