§ 25. Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action it is proposed to take to meet urgently needed necessary applications from local authorities for assistance with water and drainage schemes, in view of the fact that applications for assistance under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewage Act, 1944, exceed the amount available by more than £25,000,000.
§ Mr. WoodburnI would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my predecessor on 9th August, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and Haddington (Mr. Robertson), in connection with the possibility of additional assistance towards the cost of rural water supply and drainage schemes. Since that statement was made I have opened discussions with particular local authorities and certain proposals 967 which have already been received, are being disposed of by my Department as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. Thornton-KemsleyIs it not clear that there must be an increase in the permitted amount of £6,375,000? Can we hope that the Government will introduce legislation to enable that permitted increase to be made?
§ Mr. WoodburnLegislation will be required to give that increase, but the existing amount of money permits the continuation of schemes, and arrangements are being made to start them.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartAre any of the necessary water schemes to be cut because of the proposed cuts in capital expenditure?
§ Mr. WoodburnThe hon. Member had better wait and see the White Paper.
§ Mr. MacLeodWould it not be an advantage to the Exchequer to issue grants for these major schemes, rather than follow the present practice of giving a 50 per cent. grant to individual farmers, who could make better use of water supplied from the larger schemes?
§ Mr. WoodburnThe hon. Member and I seem to be talking at cross-purposes. We are now dealing with county applications for grants towards large water schemes.
§ Mr. MacLeodThat is what I am talking about.