§ 11. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered reports made to him by consultants who have examined the proposal of the Waverley Committee for a flood barrier across the Thames near Dartford to reduce the risks of flooding; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI hope to arrange for the publication of a summary of these reports this month.
§ Mr. DoddsI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that information. Is it not deplorable that, after the disastrous floods of 1953, and though the Government offered or promised a report at the end of 1957, we are now in 1960 and just about to get one? If it takes that length of time to issue reports, how long will it take to obtain the physical resources to protect the millions of Londoners around the River Thames'?
§ Mr. BrookeAs the hon. Gentleman knows, two firms of consultants were asked to submit reports, and they submitted two reports. We shall now be publishing a summary of the reports in sufficiently non-technical language for the public to understand them. I certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman that this is an important matter. I had rather hoped that he would be grateful to me for promising publication this month.