asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he invited local authorities to phase their regional schemes for rural water supplies and to put their smaller schemes in order of priority, in view of the fact that he is not going to accept their recommendations.

Local authorities were asked to divide their regional schemes for water supplies into sections and to classify their smaller schemes in order of priority so that I might have their views when making a selection of schemes or sections of schemes to be considered in detail for purposes of grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944. In making that selection, I have given the fullest consideration to views of the local authorities concerned and have been able to accept them save in one or two exceptional cases.

On what grounds does the right hon. Gentleman base these selections, because in my constituency the county council would not select them in the way they have been selected?

It would take rather a long time at Question time to deal with that, but I am willing to discuss the matter which my hon. Friend has in mind after Questions.