§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Agriculture how many men, approximately, are now employed on land drainage schemes; and how many of these men are at work as a result of the operation of the Land Drainage Act?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe number of men employed on State-assisted land drainage schemes is approximately 1,543. None of these are at work as a result of the operation of the Land Drainage Act, 1930. As my hon. Friend is aware the main object of that Act was to secure the constitution of catchment boards for the main rivers and thus to enable more comprehensive schemes of drainage to be carried out through these catchment boards. These boards are being set up as rapidly as the statutory requirements of the Act permit, but there has not yet been time for the consideration by them of drainage schemes.