§ 29. Mr. LOGANasked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to give any information in regard to floodings at Litherland, Seaforth and Bootle; and whether compensation will be paid for damage done in homes affected?
§ Sir K. WOODThe inquiries I have made generally confirm but do not enable me to add to the description given by the hon. Member in the question put by him on 25th June last. I have no information as to the matter raised in the second part of the question.
§ Mr. LOGANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that only last week there were further floods; that in one place there was a trench 200 yards long and that a man actually lost his life in the public street as a result of the flooding; and on the ground of health alone, apart from any other question, is it not necessary that some action should be taken in the matter? I ask the Minister to get in touch with Sir George Etherton, a very able county council administrator there, in order to see that this drainage system is made effective.
§ Sir K. WOODI think the hon. Gentleman can trust this authority to do their duty in the matter.
§ Mr. LOGANBut is the Minister aware that this has been going on since Bootle 600 was an urban district, and that now there are 100,000 people there; and is it not possible for the Minister to see that there is a proper drainage system there, instead of a system under which people may be drowned in the public streets as a result of flooding?
§ Sir K. WOODThe hon. Gentleman knows that I regret the circumstances, but he also knows that I have no jurisdiction in the matter.