§ 29. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds the Department of Agriculture is refusing to pay a grant under the Agricultural (Miscellaneous Provisions) Acts, 1941 and 1944, in respect of schemes for agricultural water supplies on the basis of the lowest competitive offer, as scheduled by tradesmen in the district where the water supplies are to be introduced.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe proportion of the cost of approved schemes for agricultural water supplies which may be paid by way of grant is not statutory, but at present the grant payable is 50 per cent. of the cost normally incurred for work of the kind in the particular district concerned. I am not, however, prepared to authorise this percentage where the rates charged are above normal, even if the offer is the lowest received. In such cases, grant will be paid on the normal rate, or on a valuation of the completed work.
§ Mr. MacphersonWhile the grants may not be statutory in one sense, are they not statutory in the sense that they are of such proportion as the Treasury may approve; and does the right hon. Gentleman really think it is fair, when the Treasury have approved a certain proportion of the grant and the cost has been incurred, that the owner of the land who carries out the improvements should not get the full proportion of the cost incurred?
§ Mr. WoodburnI am afraid the control is a little tighter than that and we wish to see the work carried out economically and to consider various other factors before deciding on the grant.