§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that water authorities in all parts of the country are being prevented from carrying out urgently required projects for the supply of water to new areas, and rural areas in particular, by their inability either to obtain authority to start works already approved or to obtain the pipes, other materials and labour necessary to carry out such works; and whether, in view of the urgent need for improving rural water supplies, he can now take steps to ensure that better priorities are provided to enable the water authorities to proceed with their schemes.
§ Mr. BevanNo. There has, on the contrary, been a steady and substantial increase each year since 1945 both in the volume of work authorised and in the amount of work in hand. The total value128W of the work authorised for rural areas compares favourably with that authorised for urban areas and is much in excess of any previous efforts in this direction.