asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many water schemes have now been approved in Scotland and how many refused; for how many grants have already been given by his Department; and what is the total sum involved.

Up to date 177 schemes have been approved under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944, and so far grants amounting to £5,393,000 have been offered in respect of 99 of them. The number of applications refused is 31, most of them because they did not relate to rural localities as required by the Act.