§ 32. Mr. de Rothschildasked the Minister of Agriculture how many schemes for capital works eligible for grants from the Ministry have been submitted by the Great Ouse Catchment Board since 1930; and what was the estimated capital cost of each such scheme and the amount of the grant made in each case?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe River Great Ouse Catchment Board have made application for a grant, under Section 55 of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, in respect of five schemes of capital works, details of which, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Most of these schemes form part of a comprehensive scheme estimated to cost £6,500,000 which was under consideration just before the financial crisis in September, 1931.
§ Following are the details:
§ rateable value at the latest available date was £3,323,106. The maximum sum which the catchment board can normally demand in any one financial year from any county council is the product of a rate of 2d. in the pound on that part of the county within the catchment area, and the total sum which the catchment board can obtain from this source is £27,693 per annum. I must emphasise, however, that the normal maximum just referred to can be exceeded in any year with the consent of the majority of those members of the catchment board who are appointed by the county councils, and can also be exceeded during the currency of a loan, if the said members or a majority thereof so resolve.