§ 31. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the East Riding County Council on Saturday, 2nd February, calling his attention again to the great land reclamation scheme that could be carried out on the foreshore between Sunk Island and Spurn Point, on the north side of the River Humber, both as a means of providing work for the unemployed in the East Riding and the City of Hull and as a means of reclaiming rich agricultural land; and whether he can now give this proposal his sympathetic consideration?
Mr. GUINNESSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. An examination of a similar proposal in regard to the districts referred to by the hon. and gallant Member was carried out in 1923, from which it appeared that, quite apart from other difficulties, there was only a very small area of land ripe for reclamation. I am of opinion that the limited amount of State money available could be more usefully expended in other directions in connection with land drainage.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHow should the gentleman interested, including the councillors concerned, proceed in order to get State assistance? Should they apply to the Minister of Agriculture or to Lord St. Davids' Committee?
Mr. GUINNESSI think they could probably take either course, but our information, which is based on a fairly recent examination, is that there is very little of this land which has been sufficiently enriched by the tidal herbage to justify the expensive work of reclamation.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCould not this work be started on a small scale in the interests of employing men who will otherwise be idle?
Mr. GUINNESSIf we started this work on a very small scale on the narrow strip of land along the estuary the cost would be prohibitive, and there would be no prospect of an economic return.