§ Mr. JODRELLasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the state of Sculthorpe Fen, in Norfolk; that, in spite of constant complaints from local inhabitants; nothing has been done for some years to clean out the drains and watercourses; that not only has this seriously decreased the letting value of upwards of 115 acres of good fen land but is of great detriment to the neighbouring small holdings and allotments, and that this fen is the property of the War Office who are bound to keep the drains, etc., in good working order; and if steps will be taken to do this without further delay?
Captain GUESTThe property to which my hon. Friend refers is a disused rifle range vested in the Norfolk County Territorial Force Association. I gather that the tenant, who was responsible under his agreement for the cleansing of the drains and watercourses on the land, found it impossible to carry out the work during the War, owing to the shortage of labour. When the food question was acute the War Office endeavoured to assist in the matter, and the question of obtaining prisoner-of-war labour for the service was considered, but, owing to the restrictions imposed on the employment of such labour in prohibited areas, and difficulties of accommodation and transport, the proposal had to be abandoned. It was not found possible to allot soldier labour for the carrying out of the work. A thorough examination of the property was recently decided upon with a view to formulating a scheme for repair at War Department expense, but, as the drains on the lands in 2303W question cannot be regarded independently of those on the adjoining properties, it may be necessary to have a joint scheme, to which adjoining owners would contribute. This question, however, is being further considered together with the question of the necessity for the further retention of this range in present circumstances.