Floods

HC Deb 08 November 1960 vol 629 cc803-6

9. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement on the measures he proposes to take at national level to deal with the serious position caused by floods.

10. Sir J. Maitland

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government propose to give to local authorities and to individuals who have been seriously affected by the recent disastrous floods; and what action it is proposed to take to prevent a recurrence.

12. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the magnitude of the distress caused by recent floods and the need for quick and adequate assistance for those who have suffered, what provision is to be made from Government sources; whether he is aware of the widespread desire that the prevention of flooding and assistance to those who suffer from floods should be on a national basis; what official consideration has been given to the matter; and what is to be the future policy of Her Majesty's Government on such matters.

37. Mr. M. Stewart

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to organise a national fund, comprising both a contribution by the State and voluntary gifts, from which help may be given to those who suffer loss or injury from floods and other similar disasters.

Mr. H. Brooke

I made a general statement to the House on 2nd November to which at present I have nothing to add.

Mr. Janner

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable feeling about this matter throughout the country in view of the expensive nature of the damage that has been done, and that people are not at all satisfied with the Bill that he has introduced; and is he prepared to do anything on a national scale instead of advising only local authorities and private individuals to compensate or do something for the people who, through his own negligence in not introducing legislation earlier, have suffered this serious damage?

Mr. Brooke

The Land Drainage Bill is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In the statement which I made a week ago I made it clear that the Exchequer and the Government would stand behind both the local authorities and the local appeal funds if the financial needs exceeded that which could be regarded as reasonable.

Sir J. Maitland

Does my right hon. Friend realise that this "standing behind the local authorities" is not very noticeable at the present moment? Does he realise that only yesterday I had a letter from the river board responsible for one river which caused damage, in which the board stated that the river had five breaches in it and when the board applied for help to repair the breaches it was turned down flat? Does my right hon. Friend further realise that the repair expenses will be borne by the very people who have sustained damage? Does he think that this is in the spirit of what he said the other day, about which we were all so pleased?

Mr. Brooke

I am extremely anxious to maintain in both the spirit and the letter what I said the other day, but Questions about work by river boards in this matter should be put to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Dodds

Would the right hon. Gentleman be interested to know that last weekend I was among many victims of the floods in Kent and they think that his statement is deplorable in regard to his "standing behind" but a long way back? He says that people like to give money, but does he really think that people will give money if they know that ultimately the Government will provide it? Has he himself not created a situation in which people who want help quickly will have to wait a long time for it, if they get it at all? Why is he not a little more forward in helping people when they badly need assistance? They need assistance now.

Mr. Brooke

The answer is that everybody's immediate needs are being met and nobody is being called upon to wait. What the hon. Gentleman says about people being unwilling to subscribe if they think the Government are going to provide all the money is, of course, a powerful argument against forming a national disasters fund.

Mr. M. Stewart

Would the objection which the right hon. Gentleman has raised apply if, for instance, the Government proposed to contribute on a pound for pound basis? I do not think it would. The right hon. Gentleman said that he had nothing to add at present to his statement. Will he give an assurance that he is considering the suggestions made in these Questions, that he has not closed his mind on them, and that he will make a further statement quite soon?

Mr. Brooke

I will certainly give an assurance that the matter is under consideration by the Government as a whole and that a statement will be made in due course.

Mr. Dudley Williams

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is some little confusion on the part of local authorities about the procedure that they should adopt in order to ensure that they get from the Government the financial assistance which my right hon. Friend promised? Will he consider whether a circular could be sent as early as possible to local authorities so that they may know what lines they should follow to get help?

Mr. Brooke

Perhaps I may say something even more speedy than a circular. If a local authority is doubtful whether it has statutory powers to carry out some work which it thinks is needed, it should communicate with my Department immediately—a telephone will suffice—and the matter can be pursued. As to who will eventually foot the bill, one cannot really tell that for certain until one sees what the bill will amount to, but, as I have said previously, if any local authority is forced to incur expenditure which would put an unreasonable burden on the local rates, the Exchequer is prepared to help.

Mr. C. Hughes

In his statement last week the Minister said that he thought that the Land Drainage Bill would solve the long-term problem. Is it not the case that the new Bill will not make a great deal of additional money available towards the solution of the long-term problem? Will not he now consider instituting an investigation with the River Boards Association and other bodies concerned so that a long-term solution may be found?

Mr. Brooke

I am not aware of ever having said that the Land Drainage Bill would necessarily solve the whole problem. The extent to which it will solve the problem is a question which should be debated on Second Reading.

Mr. Janner

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.