§ 35. Mr. Joynson-Hicksasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards the provision of a water works scheme for the island of Trinidad; whether the report made in 1947 to the Colonial Government by their consulting engineers has yet been implemented; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Creech JonesAs stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) on 22nd September, 1948, £696,250, had been spent on the Caura dam up to that date. In addition, from 1942 to 1948 nearly £200,000 were spent on improvements in water supply in four other districts and in certain rural areas. The recommendations made by the consulting engineers in 1947 have not yet been carried out owing to lack of funds, but an order of priority of capital works has been worked out in consultation with them and is to be placed before the Legislature with a view to the works being undertaken in stages as funds are available.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate how very little his reply relates to the Question, that expenditure on the Caura Dam has not produced any water as the Dam leaks badly, and that the 1942 recommendations have not yet by any means been implemented? Can he say whether the 1361 people of Trinidad have any better hope of getting water now than they had in 1947—because there is no appearance of it?
Mr. Creech JonesI have indicated that work on alternative waterworks has been going forward. I made it clear that a consulting engineer has also been at work, and that a programme of work has already been planned.