§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what estimate he has made of the effect which the proposed restriction upon local authority spending will have upon the work of river purification boards;
(2) if he will instruct river purification boards not to press local authorities to incur heavy additional expenditure on old sewage disposal systems for the purposes of the board while credit restrictions remain.
§ Mr. J. StuartI have no power to give such instructions to river purification boards, whose duties are laid down in the Statute. Copies of the message sent by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself to local authorities on 26th October, 1955, asking them to review their capital expenditure were also sent to the river purification boards for their information. It is not possible to estimate the effect on the work of the boards of any decisions which local authorities may reach as a result of the message.