asked the Minister of Health if he will give any indication of when a piped water supply will be made available to villages in the southern part of the rural district of Newark.

Proposals for supplying the area cannot be considered until a new source under a scheme for an adjoining area has been tested. A local inquiry will be held shortly into the latter scheme. I am unable to say when the villages in question will be supplied.

Is the Minister aware that the farmers in that area will be quite unable to carry out their task unless water is supplied? Will the Minister, therefore, give attention not only to this scheme, but to schemes of a similar nature in all rural areas?

We should be far better able to supply these needs if hon. Members opposite had done their duty many years ago.

Can the Minister give an assurance that there will be no slowing down of the plans and the work of providing a piped water supply to rural districts in general?

There is no slowing down. There is rather a hastening, and more is being done now than has been done for many years.