§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Health the grounds on which he decides whether or not to make a grant to a local authority under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944.
§ Mr. BevanI must first decide whether the scheme is within the scope of the Act, that is, whether it is for a rural locality and, in the case of sewerage and sewage disposal, whether the need arises from something done or proposed to be done, either before or after the passing of the Act, to supply or increase the supply of piped water. If it is, grant is given if and to the extent that the deficiency falling on the local authority, in relation to their financial position and their commitments for similar schemes, is more than they can reasonably be expected to bear themselves.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Health to what extent it is the practice of his Department to refuse grants to a local authority until further schemes proposed by the local council have been submitted so that the whole question can be reviewed by him when all the facts are marshalled; and how far this process prevents an urgent local scheme being allocated a grant and considered as a purely local arrangement in cases where it has no influence one way or the other on a general water scheme of the area as a whole.
§ Mr. BevanWhere the deficiency on a particular scheme is not sufficient in itself to justify grant assistance, but further schemes are expected, it is the practice to defer a decision on the grant190W question so that the total financial liability can be considered. A local scheme would not be refused grant if the cost justified assistance.