§ 15. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the acreage certified as suitable for drainage in the Spey drainage scheme.
§ Mr. T. FraserAbout 5,000 acres of land are affected by flooding in the Upper Spey Valley but without a close survey it is difficult to say what proportion could be improved at reasonable cost.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonIn view of the size of the area of land concerned, could we not get on with this Spey drainage scheme? Could not a good deal more active consideration be given to it than has been given up to the present?
§ Mr. FraserNo scheme has been formulated for the area because the statutory provisions at present seem to be inadequate for the purpose. The noble Lord will appreciate that we have been consulting the National Farmers' Union and other interests concerned about the Duncan Committee's Report, which we received earlier in the year, and which proposes some legislative changes in the matter.