HC Deb 27 October 1947 vol 443 cc514-5
67. Mr. Dye

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has decided what financial assistance will be made available to the internal drainage authorities in the Great Ouse Catchment Drainage, whose districts were flooded during the early part of this year, and to the owners of land whose drains were blocked and can only be cleared at great expense.

Mr. T. Williams

As announced in my statement to the House on 24th March, an increased rate of grant of 75 per cent. is payable to enable flood-damaged internal drains and farm ditches to be restored. My hon. Friend will be aware of the provisions of the Agriculture (Emergency Payments) Act, 1947, in respect of flooded land put under crops, and of the special payments through the Agricultural Disaster Fund, from a sum made available by the Lord Mayor's Flood Distress Fund, to occupiers who were unable to crop their land because it was cleared too late. In addition, it was clear that some internal drainage boards, whose districts were substantially inundated with the result that crops could not be grown this year, would have difficulty in collecting drainage rates, and I have agreed to make special arrangements to overcome their difficulties.

Major Legge-Bourke

Could not the Minister circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information to which he has referred?

Mr. Williams

I think the hon. and gallant Member is aware that that is already embodied in HANSARD, following a statement that I made here.