§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the fact that the cost of land drainage and coast erosion is borne by occupiers of land, he will bring this question before the Agricultural Conference?
Mr. WOODAs it is not possible to establish the Agricultural Conference on the lines originally proposed, the question raised by my hon. and gallant Friend does not arise. 1 would point out to him, however, that the whole question of coast erosion was dealt with exhaustively by a Royal Commission which reported in the year 1911. The Commission definitely reported against the cost of sea defence works being made a national charge, and I am not aware of any circumstances that have arisen since the Report of that Commission which would justify adopting another view. As regards land drainage, the principle underlying existing legislation is payment for benefit received, and I can hold out no hope of the cost of land drainage being made a national charge.