HC Deb 09 July 1957 vol 573 cc177-9
15 and 16. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what schemes for supplying piped water in the area of Cheadle Rural District Council, North Staffordshire, have been submitted to him; and how many have been approved, with dates, since 1945;

(2) what schemes for supplying piped water in the area of Biddulph, North Staffordshire, have been submitted to him; and how many have been approved, with dates, since 1945.

Mr. Bevins

As the Answer lists 28 schemes I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Harold Davies

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, can he tell the House how long it takes for the Ministry to make its decision after a scheme is submitted to his Department?

Mr. Bevins

On the average, a matter of two or three months for these.

SCHEMES FOR SUPPLYING PIPED WATER: NORTH STAFFS.
Cheadle Rural District
Scheme Submitted Approved
Caverswall Wood * 13.11.45
Addersley Mill, Cheadle * 7.8.46
Mains to new houses (Cheadle) * 27.9.46
Parish of Caverswall * 4.12.46
Tape Street, Cheadle * 10.7.47
Parish of Checkley * 2.9.47
Breach Lane, Teanford * 8.3.48
Parish of Dilhorne * 2.7.48
Cotton—Oakamoor * 30.8.48
Alton—Alton Common * 12.1.49
Parish of Farley 27.4.51 20.5.52
Oakamoor Area 10.9.51 16.10.53
Parish of Caverswall 30.6.52 4.11.52
Parish of Weston Coyney 15.5.53 8.6.53
Sheepwash, Caverswall 14.7.53 25.6.54
Ramshorn Road Area, Oakamoor 2.7.54 4.1.55
Stoney Lane, Cauldon Low 6.8.54 24.11.54
Consall 28.12.55 28.5.56
Oakamoor—Kingsley 10.2.56 16.11.56
Waterhouses, Cotton and Blore-with-Swinscoe 20.4.56 4.2.57
Withystakes, Werrington (First stage) 30.6.56 23.8.56
Ipstones Edge, Bottom-houses and Winkhill 25.1.57 (Under consideration)
17. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what grants have been made since 1945 to the local authorities of Kids-grove, Cheadle, Biddulph, and Leek to help provide water and/or sewage schemes in the areas.

Mr. Bevins

No such grants have been made to the Urban District Councils of Kidsgrove or Leek.

The capital equivalent of grants paid or undertaken to be paid by my Department to Cheadle Rural District Council is £7,694 for water, and £108,000 for sewerage; and to Leek Rural District Council £35,000 for water and £4,636 for sewerage.

During the same period my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has also paid or undertaken to pay grants for water schemes for farm purposes totalling £5,000 to Biddulph Urban District Council, and £11,500 to Cheadle Rural District Council.

Mr. Harold Davies

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, does he realise that the problem throughout the whole of the country is similar to that of the hill districts which I have mentioned? Has not the time come, whichever party is in power, to consider water supplies as being of major importance to the country? Can he say whether the Government intend urgently to do something about water supplies to rural areas in the near future?

Mr. Bevins

If the hon. Member had been present at the recent debate on water supplies, he would have realised that the Government are greatly conscious of their importance.