§ Colonel BURTONasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of drainage schemes and the areas affected in East Anglia, the total cost, and the proportion which will be met from Exchequer funds?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONThe number of State-aided drainage schemes which have been completed since 1926 in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge and the Isle of Ely is 13, of which the cost has been £32,647 and the Exchequer grant £11,725. 19 schemes are still in operation or are due to begin, of which the estimated cost will be £387,564 and the Exchequer grant £189,228. The area affected by all the above schemes is estimated at about 381,000 acres. In addition there is one large scheme in operation which is being assisted from the funds of the Unemployment Grants Committee. This scheme is estimated to cost £200,000, and the Government grant amounts to 75 per cent. of the loan charges for the first 15 years of the loan650W period, and 37½ per cent. of the loan charges for the second 15 years of the loan period.