HC Deb 04 March 1952 vol 497 c185
34. Mr. A. Fenner Brockway

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he has taken on resolutions adopted and sent to him by the Buckinghamshire County Council expressing the opinion that the cost of works necessary to prevent flooding of streams and rivers due to the discharge of storm water or sewage effluent from a new town are directly attributable to its development and that the whole cost should be a charge on national funds and disapproving of the proposal that the question should be referred to the joint arbitration of two Government Departments having a direct interest in the outcome of such arbitration.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The Thames Conservancy and the development corporation have agreed to submit the matters in dispute to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Agriculture and myself, and I cannot, therefore, at this stage, express views on the merits of the resolution referred to.

Mr. Brockway

Does the Minister think it fair that two Government Departments whose interests are involved in this dispute should be the arbitration authorities?

Mr. Macmillan

I am not really so interested as all that. I think we could probably give as fair an arbitration as any other two men.