§ 23 and 24. Major McCallumasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware that much good agricultural land in the Campbeltown area is lost to regular food production because of the frequent flooding caused by the Backs and Machrihanish waters; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that this land is preserved for agricultural production;
187 (2) if he is aware of the necessity for re-developing the land drainage scheme for the Campbeltown-Machrihanish area; that the farming community are unable to finance such a scheme themselves in its entirety; and if he will devise some new plan to carry out this urgent work for which a rate or levy to cover the interest charges on the capital expenditure could be raised from the proprietors and farmers whose lands would be restored to regular cultivation.
§ Mr. SnaddenMy right hon. Friend is fully aware of the need to carry out a scheme of drainage works in the Machrihanish area near Campbeltown. This is one of a number of major drainage problems which can only be solved by new legislation. In our consideration of legislative proposals we will carefully examine the method suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend to secure contributions by proprietors and farmers directly benefitting from drainage work.
§ Major McCallumIs my hon. Friend aware that already many farmers, including small-holders, are losing heavily in their farming operations through this constant flooding? May I impress upon him the need to press upon his right hon. Friend to push on with this proposed legislation?