HC Deb 19 February 1959 vol 600 cc514-5
3. Mr. G. Jeger

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the Heneage Committee's Report of 1951.

Mr. Godber

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 2nd February.

Mr. Jeger

Does not the hon. Gentleman recollect that only a week or so before that he was very anxious and eager to conduct discussions on the Heneage Report and, in fact, threw out three challenges to my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown)? Is there any conflict between himself and the Minister over the Heneage Report which prevents him making a statement to the House about it?

Mr. Godber

I can assure the House, and the hon. Member, that there is no conflict whatever between my right hon. Friend and myself over this or any other matter. I would welcome an opportunity to debate all the problems associated with the Heneage Report, but it is difficult to go into details in Question and Answer.

Mr. Willey

Will the Parliamentary Secretary have a word with his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, and ensure that we have a debate? Quite frankly, however, we want more than a debate. After all these years, we want action from the Government.

Mr. Godber

I quite realise that action on this is called for, and I am still hopeful that we shall be able to get it. However, this is a very difficult problem, and it is not one that would be helped by trying to bring in legislation which would not be made use of after being put on the Statute Book. That is one of the difficulties of some parts of the existing drainage legislation, and it must be taken into account.