§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of dwelling-houses in the Highlands and Islands which lack a piped indoor water supply and/or sanitation; and show the progress made under recent legislation towards the provision of water supplies in these areas, including schemes under consideration, approved and under construction.
§ Mr. WoodburnI regret that the particulars asked for in the first part of the Question are not available and in present circumstances I do not feel justified in asking local authorities to undertake the additional burden that would be involved in obtaining them. The following table shows the progress made towards the provision or improvement of public water supplies in the Highlands and Islands with the aid of grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944.
— No. of Schemes. Estimated Cost. (1) Local authorities' programmes under the Act 358 £8,839,000 (2) Provisionally selected for grant 85 2,788,000 (3) Approved and grant offered 55 1,681,000 (4) Acceptance of grant intimated by local authorities— (a) Schedules, etc., under preparation and water rights being acquired 5 900,000 (b) Works under construction 1 54,000