HC Deb 28 October 1952 vol 505 c1713
12 and 13. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he is aware that the water supply at Tolleshunt Knights, near Maldon, Essex, is so inadequate that many householders and market gardeners get no water at all during the daytime, water closets are unusable, milk goes sour because there is no water for the cooling apparatus at some farms and fires cannot be put out, but that these conditions are not certifiable by the Medical Officer of Health of the Maldon Rural District Council as prejudicial to health; and if he will consider taking steps to grant more discretion to medical officers of health to issue the appropriate certificate in such cases;

(2) if he is aware of the serious water shortage in the parish of Tolleshunt Knights, near Maldon, Essex; and if he will expedite approval of a scheme to provide a better supply of water to this parish.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The Rural District Council recently asked whether water supplies in the Tolleshunt Knights area could not be improved, and I invited them to send me details of their proposals together with a report on existing conditions by the medical officer of health. I have not yet received any of this information. Medical officers of health have full discretion in reporting on matters of this kind, and no instructions are needed from me.