§ 10. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a disproportionate delay over the supply of bends and unions for work of rural water supply; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.
§ Mr. BevanI am aware that there are delays in delivery of materials for these schemes, and I am afraid that there can be but little improvement until the general supply position improves.
§ Mr. TurtonIs the Minister aware that the delay for pipes is four months but that the delay for bends and unions is 12 months, and that this disproportionate delay over bends and unions is holding up all the schemes?
§ Mr. BevanI agree that there are very great difficulties about these supplies, and I am doing my best; but in the circumstances I am afraid that some delay is inevitable.
§ Captain CrookshankCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any special priority given for this work, in view of its importance to the agricultural industry?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, but the right hon. Gentleman will remember, will he not, that the Government have stated that agriculture in general would have priority in these days?
§ 13. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Health the number and cost of the rural water supply schemes completed since July, 1945, to the latest relevant date, the number and estimated cost of those approved but not yet completed, and the number and estimated cost of those awaiting his approval.
§ Mr. BevanSince July, 1945, I have approved, up to 31st October, 1947, 800 schemes estimated to cost £9,173,000. I have no full record of the number completed, but it is estimated that it is approximately 260 at an estimated cost of £900,000. Schemes awaiting my approval number 540 and are estimated to cost £9,488,000.
§ Mr. TurtonIs the Minister satisfied with that picture?
§ Mr. BevanNo, I am not satisfied with the picture, but, as the hon. Member will recognise from the previous Question which he asked, it is no use authorising 1165 schemes too far ahead of the materials available for their carrying out. However, they do compare rather favourably with similar periods before the war.
§ Mr. David EcclesHave these uncompleted schemes any special priority inside the revised capital investment programme?
§ Sir Henry Morris-JonesWould the Minister circulate a list of these schemes for the information of hon. Members, in order that we may ascertain how our local constituencies stand?
§ Mr. BevanI doubt very much whether it is necessary to circulate a list of all the schemes in order that one hon. Member may know where his constituency stands.
§ Sir. H. Morris-JonesI said "all hon. Members."
§ Mr. BevanI am perfectly prepared to answer any Question any hon. Member puts down in order to ascertain the position in his constituency.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the steel necessary for the pipes to lay on these supplies a priority allocation under the steel priority scheme?