§ 50. Mr. Evelyn Walkdenasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an assurance that the maximum effort is now being made to prevent a recurrence of the flooding and widespread 1426 damage to homesteads, farm buildings, agricultural land, and smallholdings in the districts of which he has been informed?
Mr. HudsonI am assured that the drainage authorities concerned are taking all practicable steps to prevent a repetition of the events to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. WalkdenIs the Minister aware that during the recent disastrous floods 36 farmers in that area suffered damage to the extent of £10,000, and that they are almost destitute, or bankrupt?
Mr. HudsonI am aware of the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers, which were very largely the result of the worst floods for at least 10 years. I am assured that certain steps have been taken, or are being put in hand, to try and obviate any recurrence. I cannot pretend that those steps will not take some considerable time to carry out.