§ 72. Mr. Thorneasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give the House any information in connection with the 600 drainage summonses levied against the citizens of Sheerness; whether he is aware that the controversy has been in progress for nearly two years; and whether he proposes to hold a public inquiry as to whether the proportion of the cost levied on the citizens is a fair amount of the total cost?
§ Mr. RamsbothamMy right hon. Friend is aware that there has been resistance on the part of drainage ratepayers in Sheerness to the payment of drainage rates levied by the Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board. This board was constituted under a scheme made by the River Medway Catchment Board in pursuance of their statutory duty under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, and confirmed by the Minister after the holding of a public local inquiry. A differential rating order which has had the effect of reducing the rate levied in the greater part of Sheerness to a fraction of the full rate has been in force since 1st April, 1935, and a further differential rating order is now before my right hon. Friend for confirmation, reducing the burden still further. My right hon. Friend is now considering the question of the confirmation of this further order, which incidentally the responsible local authority, 1608 the Sheerness Urban District Council, have intimated they do not desire to oppose. Still further relief to the drainage ratepayers in Sheerness is likely to arise from the amalgamation on 1st April next of four existing catchment areas into one catchment area to be called the Kent Rivers Catchment Area. In the circumstances my right hon. Friend does not think that a public inquiry would serve any useful purpose.