§ 20. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications he has received for Improvement Orders, and how many he has made, arising from the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act, 1958.
§ Mr. MaclayNinety-six applications for improvement orders have been received. Of these twenty-eight have been withdrawn by the applicants. One order has been made and the remaining sixty-seven applications are at various stages of consideration.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Act is quite inadequate to meet many of the flooding and drainage problems throughout Scotland? It applies only to agricultural land and excludes the prevention of flooding where other subjects are involved, such as factories or residential property. Could he give any hope that 1066 he will take the bit in his teeth and bring forward some legislation so that we can attempt to remove many of the flood problems?
§ Mr. MaclayIt is too early to pass judgment on the operation of the Act. The other matters raised by the hon. Member go far outside this question. I am considering the possibility of legislation to deal with some parts of the problem.