 It empowered the Government to make grants for the purpose of expanding rural water supplies, up to the sum of £15,000,000 in England and Wales and £6,375,000 in Scotland - this sum was extended to £20,000,000 for Scotland by the Water (Scotland) Act 1949.By March 1950 the Government had granted £9,839,000 in England and Wales, and £6,619,000 in Scotland, with £3,700,000 of the latter sum being spent in the Highlands; applications for the remainder of the grants were in process.The limiting factor on expenditure had been the availability of labour and materials, not problems with the provision of finance.