HC Deb 04 November 1947 vol 443 cc192-3W
Mr. Piratin

asked the Minister of Health how many schemes for providing a piped water supply under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944, have been submitted for his approval; how many have been approved; on how many work is actually in progress, and how many have been completed; what is the total cost of the schemes submitted, approved, commenced and completed; and what is the average proportion of the total cost of the approved schemes which is being borne by the Exchequer, the county council and the rural district council, respectively.

Mr. Bevan

Application for grant under the Act has been made in respect of 547 schemes; 133 have been approved for grant, subject to examination of final details; 43 have been finally approved and authorised for commencement; and application for final payment of grant on completion of works has been made in two cases. The total cost of the scheme submitted, provisionally approved, authorised for commencement, and submitted for grant on completion is £15,960,357, £7,300,533, £522,263 and £6,640 respectively. The average grant provisionally allocated is approximately one-third of the capital cost. The amount of the grant to be made by the county council is a question to be agreed, in the first instance, between that authority and the local authority responsible for the scheme.