Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Health whether he can now make some statement as to what steps he is taking to assist the local authorities at a place of which he has been informed in dealing with the water shortage problem; and what appropriate action he proposes to take in connection with the safeguarding from damage of the supply of water to a neighbouring borough.
§ Mr. WillinkI have not been asked to assist the responsible local authority. I am informed that the Council expect to obtain a bulk supply from another local authority and that they will be relieved of the necessity of supplying water for certain Service requirements. It is hoped that the difficulties will be overcome when these arrangements are in operation. I think my hon. Friend is already aware of the arrangements made in consultation with the Department concerned for the protection of the neighbouring supply.
§ Major Manningham-Bullerasked the Minister of Health how many civil parishes, within the statutory water area of authorised water undertakers in England and Wales, are not yet supplied by the authority concerned.
§ Mr. WillinkI regret that information in the precise form desired by my hon. and pliant Friend is not readily available.
§ Major Manningham-Bullerasked the Minister of Health how many rural parishes, being civil parishes within administrative county districts in England and Wales, are without a public supply of water and electricity, respectively; and in what counties are such parishes located.
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§ Mr. WillinkFollowing is a statement as to rural parishes without a public supply of water. So far as the Question relates to electricity it should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.
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England. County. No. of rural parishes in the county without a public supply of water. Bedford 1 Berks. 42 Buckingham 10 Cambridge 14 Chester 50 Cornwall 70 Cumberland 10 Derby 84 Devon 174 Dorset 134 Durham 36 Ely, Isle of 4 Essex 23 Gloucester 139 Hereford 177 Hertford 12 Huntingdon 11 Kent 16 Lancaster 18 Leicester 84 Lincoln:— Parts of Holland — Parts of Kesteven 50 Parts of Lindsey 246 London — Middlesex — Norfolk 383 Northampton 101 Northumberland 328 Nottingham 58 Oxford 115 Peterborough, Soke of — Rutland 30 Salop 143 Somerset 80 Southampton 99 Stafford 42 Suffolk, East 148 Suffolk, West 71 Surrey 4 Sussex, East 40 Sussex, West 31 Warwick 89 Westmorland 25 Wight, Isle of — Wilts. 142 Worcester 113 York:— East Riding 19 North Riding 193 West Riding 120 TOTAL 3,779* * Of these 1,203 parishes have privately owned piped water supplies.
Wales. County. No. of rural parishes in the county without a public supply of water. Anglesey … — Brecknock … 39 Caernarvon … 6 Cardigan … 15 Carmarthen … 20 Denbigh … 8 Flint … 7 Glamorgan … 2 Merioneth … 6 Monmouth … 12 Montgomery … 25 Pembroke … 57 Radnor … 29 TOTAL … 226* * Of these 55 have private piped supplies.
§ Mr. Jacksonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious shortage of water in many rural areas and will he take steps to remove all unnecessary legal obstructions which at present prevent local authorities from augmenting and improving their present supplies.
§ Mr. WillinkI am aware that there is a shortage of water in a number of rural localities and that this has been accentuated by the war, which has prevented the carrying out of many schemes that were in an advanced stage of preparation in September, 1939. The White Paper which will shortly be laid will contain proposals for the improvement and simplification of law and procedure in relation to public water supplies. A Bill which I hope to introduce this Session as part of the general reconstruction programme will also facilitate the provision of piped supplies in rural localities.