§ 2. Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many sewerage disposal schemes in rural areas he has refused to approve since he came into office on the grounds of economy.
§ Mr. HoosonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the tremendous resentment in Wales, because of the feeling that he is curtailing and preventing the implementation of sewerage schemes in rural areas? The implied reasoning behind this seems to be that they are not urgently required for housing and public health reasons in the rural areas as opposed to urban areas.
§ Mr. ThomasIn the same period I have agreed to 26 schemes in rural areas. I am not free to agree to every scheme that comes before me, without consideration of the limits on public expenditure.
§ 3. Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many villages in 695 the Principality of Wales, including Monmouthshire, are still without any mains sewerage scheme; and what steps he intends to take to remedy the position.
§ Mr. George ThomasI regret that the information covering the first part of the Question is not readily available. On the second part, local authorities themselves have the responsibility to prepare schemes for settlements in their areas where they think it worth while to provide main drainage. I am very ready to consider any scheme submitted to me; but authorities must bear in mind that only the essential schemes can be allowed to proceed at present.
§ Mr. HoosonDoes the Secretary of State not appreciate that local authorities feel frustrated because, after years of preparation in consultation with his Office, when the final schemes are prepared, in many cases he turns them down or at least holds them back? Is he aware that they feel that the Government no longer regard the provision of rural sewerage schemes as an important and urgent matter?
§ Mr. ThomasI understand and sympathise with the frustration that the rural local authorities feel. The plain truth is that we cannot be indifferent to the size of public expenditure.