§ 4. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to permit the completion of the Theddlethorpe drainage 4 scheme, on which£95,000 has already been spent, and which requires only£7,000 to complete; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. AmoryI regret that the Theddlethorpe drainage scheme does not come within the classes of scheme that I can at present authorise, having regard to the Government's general policy of restricting capital expenditure. I will, however, see that this scheme is kept specially in mind as soon as any change in the application of this policy to the approval of land drainage schemes becomes possible.
§ Mr. OsborneIs not my right hon. Friend aware that there are 1,500 acres of very rich soil which is producing only about two-thirds of the crop it is capable of producing and that it needs only a 50 per cent. grant from his Department—that is, less than £4,000—to complete a scheme on which nearly £100,000 has been spent? Surely he can find less than £4,000.
Mr. AmoryUnfortunately, there are a great many other applications for £4,000 being received from many other parts of the country. I am anxious to be fair in the allocation of the present resources. I would remind my hon. Friend that grants have not been brought to a standstill. On the contrary, during the past twelve months we have approved schemes in Lincolnshire alone amounting to £450,000.