§ 94. Mr. Turner-Samuelsasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take to avoid or minimise the effects of any possible future flooding of the Severn; and whether, in this connection, he will convene a conference of all the local and other authorities concerned 2226 with a view to immediate action on this matter.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mr. Collick)Under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, the responsible authority is the River Severn Catchment Board. Several large improvement schemes are in preparation by the Board, including one to deal with the river between Gloucester and Tewkesbury. My Department is in close touch with the Board and will give all possible help, and I doubt whether a special conference would facilitate the progress of the work.
§ Mr. Turner-SamuelsDoes the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that great advantage might be derived from a conference, in order to explore the immediate position?
§ Mr. CollickI understand that the Board have quite a lot of work, which has been suspended during the war, which they are expecting to put in hand, but we are not of the opinion that an immediate conference would serve any useful purpose.