§ Mr. Leslieasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the serious flooding throughout the country and the damage done, the Government will undertake an extensive drainage scheme whereby work could be found for a considerable number of unemployed workers?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI have no power to carry out such a scheme as that which the hon. Member seems to visualise, but I would remind him that the Catchment Boards constituted as the result of the passing of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, are in possession of the necessary powers to enable them to deal with flooding in their respective areas. Since the passing of that Act, 68 schemes, estimated to cost1086W just under £6,000,000, have been approved for Government grant. Further schemes are either now before my Department, or under consideration by the Catchment Boards concerned, and I shall continue to encourage the endeavours made by these authorities to deal with the problem to which the hon. Member refers.