Sewerage Schemes (Expenditure) (Hansard, 21 November 1977)

§ 4. Mr. Wyn Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the extent of capital underspending on sewerage schemes in Wales in the year ended 31st March 1977; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Alec Jones)
District councils, as agents for the Welsh National Water Development Authority, spent £2.8 million out of an allocation of £7 8 million. Reasons for the shortfall are given in paragraph 8.4 of the Authority's annual report.

§ Mr. Roberts
Is the Minister aware that that shortfall amounts to 73 per cent. of the expected capital spending on sewerage? Is he further aware that there was a shortfall on the water supply schemes of 32 per cent. and an overall shortfall in WNWDA spending of 34 per cent.? Does he not think that this resulted in excessive borrowing on the part of the Authority and that it calls for an inquiry similar to the inquiry that he instigated on the shortfall in housing spending, which, we understand, is again this year running at about £15 million?

§ Mr. Alec Jones
Some of the reasons for the shortfall in this industry are spelt out in some detail in the report to which I have referred. I am very concerned if under-investment occurs, and officials in the Welsh Office are already having discussions about remedying the situation, but some of the problems associated with the shortfall in spending on water and sewerage services are a consequence of the types of organisation set up by the Opposition.

§ Mr. Wigley
Is the Minister aware that in the village of Deiniolen in my constituency people have been waiting for five years for sewerage plants to be installed and that after a five-year wait, when money was given as the reason for not going forward, the programme has finally been abandoned because there is not sufficient finance? Does not the Minister regard this as totally unsatisfactory? Can the Welsh Office become more involved to ensure that such a situation does not happen again?

§ Mr. Alec Jones
Individual schemes are a matter for the authorities themselves to decide. If the hon. Gentleman will write to me or come to see me on this case, I shall make further inquiries into it.