24. Mr. Haslamasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Third Witham Internal Drainage Board collected in drainage rates from the Horn-castle urban district area for the financial periods ended 31st March, 1935, 1936 and 1937 £519, £480 and £910, respectively; that the amounts spent on works in the area by the board for the years mentioned were £11, £13 and £9 respectively, while the share of the area of the administrative expenses of the board amounted to £112, £92 and £182, respectively; that a similar inequality of burden borne, compared with benefit received, obtains in the case of the Horncastle upland area; and will he make further representations to the catchment and internal drainage boards in regard to the necessity of making some adjustment which will remove these inequalities?
§ Mr. RamsbothamMy right hon. Friend this morning received a newspaper cutting containing the figures mentioned in my hon. Friend's question. He will gladly call the attention of the catchment board to the position, but I think my hon. Friend knows that he is unable to initiate action in a matter of this kind in which he may be called upon to act in a judicial capacity. Moreover, I understand that the catchment board have now decided to carry out a scheme of remedial works in respect of the River Bain and the Horn-castle Canal at a cost of £20,000.
Mr. HaslamIs the Minister aware that some internal drainage boards have been granted differential rating, and will he not press upon them the necessity of removing the injustice which is clear from the figures given in the question? Further, in regard to this heavy expenditure, £26,000, will he give the Horncastle and district residents an opportunity of discussing this case?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI have already explained that as one or two authorities may 1768 take action my right hon. Friend may have to act in a judicial capacity, and therefore I cannot say arty more about the matter.