§ 79. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make a statement as to the recent floods in different parts of the country; and whether any steps are being taken to make the flooding of wide areas impossible?
§ Mr. RamsbothamAs indicated in the reply given to a question by the hon. Member on 2nd February, the catchment areas mainly affected by the recent floods have been the Thames, Lee, Roding, Medway, Bristol Avon, Arun and East Norfolk rivers. To these may be added the Essex rivers. With regard to the second part of the question, I would point out that 48 catchment boards constituted as a result of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, have jurisdiction over most of the principal rivers of England and Wales, that the annual expenditure from revenue of these boards amounted in the year 589 ended 31st March, 1936, to nearly £750,000, and that capital schemes by catchment boards have been approved for grant from the Ministry's fund to an estimated cost of nearly £6,000,000.
§ Mr. LawsonIn view of the very bad floods in different parts of the country, are the Government not taking some steps to deal with this extraordinary situation?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe Ministry is always very anxious to help the local authorities to exercise their powers, and the Minister has power to give financial assistance to suitable schemes of drainage work carried out by the catchment boards.
§ Mr. LawsonIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that there is a veritable feud between his Department and the Ministry of Health upon this matter of responsibility for the floods, and when is his Department going to take this matter definitely in hand and settle it?
§ Mr. RamsbothamOur relations are most amicable.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HeneageIs the Minister aware of the fact that during the short time which the catchment boards have functioned they have been doing very good work?