HC Deb 03 December 1946 vol 431 cc179-80
4. Mr. Niall Macpherson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to announce the allocation to local authorities of the £6,375,000 grant made under the Rural Water Supplies Sewerage Act, 1944, towards the cost of water supplies and drainage schemes in Scotland.

Mr. Westwood

I am making a provisional selection, from the local authorities' phased programmes, of the works which are to rank for grant, and I hope this month to ask the particular authorities concerned for the rating and other information necessary to enable firm offers of grant to be made.

Mr. Macpherson

Does that mean that only those selections will qualify for the grant, and that the lower priorities of works will not qualify at all?

Mr. Westwood

It does not necessarily follow they will not qualify at all, but there are such things as priorities and I have discussed this fully with the local authorities. I have £6¼ million to distribute, and I have to see that that cake is shared fairly amongst the respective authorities.

Mr. Snadden

Is it not obvious that the amount allowed is completely inadequate for the job in hand?

Mr. Westwood

I think it is true that the £6¼ million will not enable me to solve that problem so far as Scotland is concerned.