§ 5. Mr. Odeyasked the Minister of Agriculture which is the executive authority charged with the responsibility of maintaining the bank of the River Ouse at Barlby.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI understand that responsibility for work required to prevent erosion of this bank lies with the riparian owners.
§ Mr. OdeyDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that full responsibility for the maintenance of the bank ought to be placed upon the Ouse River Board? From the point of view of the prevention of future floods, would it not be very much better if the responsibility was placed in the hands of one authority?
§ Sir T. DugdaleYes, Sir, but the paramount drainage authority for the area is the Yorkshire Ouse River Board, who have no statutory responsibility for preventing the erosion of river banks as such. Their concern would be to prevent flooding. In this case, they do not think that there is danger of immediate flooding.
§ Mr. McAddenWill my right hon. Friend remember that in this and other areas grave dangers can result from the division of responsibility, and will he do the best he can to ensure that one authority is responsible for this form of protection instead of having it divided up among many authorities as it is at present?
§ Sir T. DugdaleThat is another question. but I will certainly look into it.