HC Deb 31 October 1946 vol 428 cc142-3W
80. Mr. Dye

asked the Minister of Health how many separate schemes under the Rural Water Supplies Act, and their estimated cost, he has, so far, received from the county of Norfolk; which of them have received his approval; and how many have already been started.

Mr. Bevan

I have received 17 schemes for water supplies and 10 schemes for sewerage for rural areas in this country; the estimated cost of the schemes is approximately £2,700,000 and £980,000 respectively. The Depwade, Docking, Freebridge Lynn Swaffham and Walsingham Rural District Councils have been authorised to obtain tenders for the sinking of trial boreholes for comprehensive schemes of water supply; the Depwade, Loddon Mitford and Launditch, and Wayland Rural District Councils have had authority to obtain tenders for extensions of mains; and the Loddon and Mitford and Launditch Rural District Councils are obtaining tenders for sewerage schemes. Work has commenced, or is about to commence on trial boreholes in the Docking, Freebridge Lynn and Walsingham Rural Districts and on extensions of mains in the Depwade and Wayland Rural Districts.

87. Sir G. Fox

asked the Minister of Health if he has now considered the comprehensive scheme for water supply throughout the Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, district; and when he anticipates that this work will begin.

Mr. Bevan

The scheme involves proposals for the compulsory alteration of the statutory areas of supply of water under- takings, and a local inquiry will be necessary. The inquiry will be held as soon as the necessary technical details of the scheme have been submitted to me.

96. Mr. R. A. Butler

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the necessary preliminary work for the provision of a piped water supply for the Halstead, Essex, rural district.

Mr. Bevan

Approval was given on 17th August, 1946, to the sinking and test pumping of a trial borehole.