THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government if they will state the total cost of the recent Dumfriesshire County Council water scheme; what proportion of the cost is being defrayed by the Exchequer, and the local authorities, respectively; what will be the estimated increase in the local rates; by how much has the expenditure exceeded the original estimate, and to what cause is this excess attributed.
§ THE MARQUESS OF ZETLANDTwo water supply schemes of some magnitude have recently been carried out by Dumfries County Council—the Lower Annandale scheme and the Lower Nithsdale and Mid-Annandale scheme. I understand that the final costs of the schemes have not yet been ascertained, but in March, 1939, the County Council stated that expenditure on the Lower Annandale scheme amounted to £64,964, an increase of £16,898 over the original estimate of £48,066, and that expenditure on the Lower Nithsdale and Mid-Annandale scheme amounted to £248,385, an increase of £35,535 over the original estimate of £212,830. I understand that the increase in each case over the original estimate is due partly to additional works having been undertaken and partly to costs having proved higher than had been estimated.
The Exchequer contribution to the Lower Annandale scheme was £7,931 and to the Lower Nithsdale and Mid-Annan-dale scheme £47,891, and the balance of the cost in each case will be borne by the local authority. I am informed that the local water rate in the Lower Annandale district was 2S. 11d. in the pound for the 544WA year 1938–39 and was no higher than the local water rate in that part of the district rated for water before the scheme was undertaken. The local water rate in the Lower Nithsdale and Mid-Annandale district for the same year was 3s. in the pound as compared with water rates varying from 4d. to 2s. in the pound levied in the year 1935–36 in certain small special water districts now incorporated in the Lower Nithsdale and Mid-Annandale district.