§ Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, when new internal drainage boards are being established, built-up areas which are in the eight-feet level but do not flood are, or are not, allowed to be included; and will he see that the necessary steps are taken to exclude from the jurisdiction of existing internal drainage boards those parts of the city of Lincoln which are built up and do not flood?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe inclusion of land in internal drainage districts is governed by Section 1 (5) of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, which provides that drainage districts other than catchment areas shall be such areas as will derive benefit or avoid danger as a result of drainage operations. Generally speaking, land in built-up areas that is above the level of the highest known flood should not in my right hon. Friend's view be considered to derive benefit or avoid danger as a result of drainage operations. With regard to the last part of the question, the boundaries of existing internal drainage districts that include a portion of the city of Lincoln can only be altered by means of a scheme or schemes made by the Witham and Steeping Rivers Catchment Board under Section 4 of the Land Drainage Act.
Mr. Haslamasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will ascertain whether there are catchment or drainage boards who hold meetings, or have held meetings, at which the Press are admitted?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonRepresentatives of the Press must normally be admitted to meetings of catchment and other drainage boards by virtue of the Local Authorities (Admission of the Press to Meetings) Act, 1908, and I have no reason to suppose that these bodies do not comply with the law in this respect.