11. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to accede to the requests that have been made to him from the Defford Parish Council, in view of the hardship and danger to health which exist through the inadequate water supply at the present time.
§ Mr. WillinkNo, Sir. The extension of the main desired by the parish council is a matter which concerns the Pershore rural district council. As the authority responsible for public water supplies, the rural district council submitted a scheme to me in September last for providing piped supplies in the parishes of Defford and Woodmancote at an estimated cost of £6,400. They wish this scheme to be considered for Government grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944. The position as regards this, and other schemes of the kind, is that while execution of the schemes and determination of grant must await the end of the war in Europe, I am prepared to examine the schemes now from the technical standpoint and, if necessary, to hold local inquiries.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. and learned Friend fully aware of the urgent 928 need of enlightened action in these matters, in view, of the fact that these places have no water supply?
§ Mr. WillinkThat is why the Bill was introduced last year. It was in order to make sure that all these districts got on with their plans now so that they can be put into operation at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. WillinkCertainly, Sir.