§ 39. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health the estimated total cost to the Bentley Council and the West Riding Public Assistance Committee due to the floods which occurred in 1931 and 1932?
Sir H. YOUNGI am informed by the urban district council that in addition to the cost of making good damage to their property for which no figure can be given the expenses incurred by them in respect of the floods of September, 1931, and May, 1932, were approximately £1,000 and £2,873, respectively, and by the county council that the expenditure on public assistance was approximately £33 and £50, respectively.
§ 47. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health what national assistance, if any, is to be made available for tenants of houses in the Bentley area who have been evicted from their houses three times in the last 18 months on account of floods?
Sir H. YOUNGThere are no funds at my disposal from which financial assistance could be rendered in the regrettable emergency referred to by the hon. Member. The inspectors of the Ministry have been in close touch with the situation, and the reports which I have received from them show that the sufferers are being assisted and the needs of the situation are being met locally, so far as they can be met, with the active cooperation of the county council. The 1336 hon. Member is no doubt aware of the legislative provision in course of being made for improved drainage organisation in the area.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, although public subscriptions were obtained in September, 1931, and in April, 1932, that is not possible in 1933, and does he not think that these sufferers ought to be assisted from some sources other than charitable sources, on their appeal?
Sir H. YOUNGThe reports which I have received from my inspectors on the spot are to the effect that all the immediate needs of the sufferers are being adequately met.
§ Mr. L. SMITHIn view of the constant flooding of this particular area, will the right hon. Gentleman consider either condemning these dwellings as unfit for habitation, or take vigorous steps to see that such flooding does not recur?
Sir H. YOUNGThe situation is, that the legislation now under consideration is calculated to deal with the situation.
§ Major COLFOXIs it true that some of these houses were erected under Government-aided housing schemes?
§ 56. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the floods of the last few weeks have disclosed any remedial work which can be undertaken as a matter of emergency in order to provide employment and to protect. the public against loss through inundations in future?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE and FISHERIES (Major Elliot)I do not think that the recent floods have disclosed any further developments in the general situation with regard to the need for the execution of drainage works. I would remind my hon. Friend that the responsibility for carrying out remedial works as suggested is upon local drainage authorities and is, of course, governed by financial and economic conditions. I may add that catchment boards set up under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, following a conterence among themselves on 10th February last, have expressed their desire to submit their views to the Government, and it is hoped to fix an early meeting with them for this purpose.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether, in view of recent floods, his reply of 14th July last still holds good, namely, that any catchment board confronted with a grave emergency may appeal to him with some degree of hope that financial Assistance NN ill be forthcoming?
§ Major ELLIOTIf they appeal to me, within the limits of the financial resources at, my disposal, I shall do my best to meet them.