HC Deb 08 November 1960 vol 629 cc827-9
44. Mr. Mathew

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the loss of life and extensive damage caused by flooding in the south-west of England, he will see that substantial and early financial aid is forthcoming to assist the areas affected and, in particular, that no differences of Departmental responsibility, or other similar factors, prevent an early start on construction work to prevent a recurrence of the flooding.

The Prime Minister

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 2nd November. No differences of Departmental responsibilities will be allowed to hinder temporary preventive works or preparations for permanent works.

Mr. de Freitas

Is the Prime Minister aware that we have had evidence this week and last week that the Departmental responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is in grave danger of doing just what the Question seeks to avoid, in that there is no connection of the twin problems of water conservation and flood prevention and, unless some co-ordination is achieved, the problem of flood prevention will be solved only by the wasteful method of just sending the water more rapidly down into the sea?

The Prime Minister

I shall study that proposition in detail with my two right hon. Friends. Knowing them, I feel sure that they are working together in very close harmony.

Mr. Mathew

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for the assurance given in his answer to the second part of my Question, but is he aware that while the statement of 2nd November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government was both welcome and reassuring in the long run, the damage and distress is now very widespread? Will he bear in mind that there are several places in my constituency which have been flooded no less than three times? Does he not think that the need now is for a far more generous and forthcoming undertaking by the Government to ensure immediate grants in the worst cases?

The Prime Minister

I understand that there are really two sets of problems. There is the relationship between the Government and the local authorities and any assistance which may be needed to help local authorities in work they are undertaking. That is one problem. It is a matter of adjustment between central and local funds. There is the second, human and immediate problem of individual distress. I understand that there have been local funds raised, and the Government undertook, in relation to the position we took in the last great flood, that we would be willing to assist with grants those locally raised funds.

Mr. Gaitskell

Does the Prime Minister realise that the financial arrangements mentioned by the Government are far from clear and far from satisfactory? Is he saying that the central Government will undertake the full cost of the burden of these floods and take it off the local authorities? If not, how much are the local authorities expected to carry themselves? Secondly, as regards the other point to which he himself referred, the need of private individuals, through what machinery precisely is help to be brought to them? Should it not be done very urgently?

The Prime Minister

As regards the first, I think that, though urgent, it has not the same human importance as the second. It is a matter of the relations between local authorities and the support which my right hon. Friend's Department, with the support of the Treasury, will give to their expenditure. I understand that the position is quite clear on that. If there are other points, perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put them to my right hon. Friend.

With regard to the second, I remember very well the circumstances some years ago. A large private fund was raised, in that case a national fund inaugurated by the Lord Mayor. Now, there are local private funds. What we have said is that we will give Government money to help those local private funds, it being the responsibility of the managers of the funds to deal with individual cases.