§ Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Health how many rural authorities have submitted water schemes to him under the 1944 Act; to how many has sanction been given; and what are the highest, lowest, and average percentage grants which he has made towards their cost.
§ Mr. BevanOne hundred and sixty rural district councils have submitted 249 water schemes, of which 27 have been approved in principle and I am awaiting formal application for loan sanction. Three have received sanction and are being carried out. The bulk of the remaining schemes were, at the general invitation of my Department, submitted in outline for examination and discussion and are now being prepared in detail by the local authorities concerned. I am about to issue a circular to local authorities inviting them to make formal applications for grant under the Act.
§ Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Health, what has been the result of his consultations with the Minister of Labour, and the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production, with regard to the allocation in the immediate future of the necessary labour and materials to enable the rural authorities to proceed with their water schemes under the 1944 Act.
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§ Mr. BevanEvery effort is made by the appropriate Departments to see that labour is made available for urgent rural water supply schemes but the hon. Member must make allowances for our overall labour shortage. I do not anticipate difficulty in the supply of materials for rural water schemes.