§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take powers to give special grants on the amalgamation of water undertakings, where the ratepayers of one of the undertakings have to go on paying a disproportionately high rate, for a number of years.
§ Mr. MacCollNo. Amalgamation of water undertakings makes it possible to spread costs over wider areas and thus to reduce differences in rates. My right hon. Friend does not think a special Exchequer grant would be justified in cases where existing differences are retained for a time after amalgamation.