§ Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether his attention has been called to the flooding in the Medway towns; and whether, in view of the losses sustained by these frequent inundations, he will consider investigating the possibility of improving the channel of the river so as to avoid large-scale damage of this kind;
(2) whether his attention has been called to the recent serious flooding in the Medway towns which has caused great distress to large numbers of people; and whether he will take steps, in co-operation with the local authorities concerned, to pay some compensation to aid the sufferers?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am aware that a certain amount of flooding was caused in the Medway Estuary during the recent severe storm, but I am not aware that there are frequent inundations of the towns in this vicinity. I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the fact that a comprehensive scheme of improvements on the River Medway, estimated to cost £450,000, is now being carried out by the Kent Rivers Catchment Board with the aid of a grant from State funds. The catchment board have recently approached me on the question of additions to this scheme estimated to cost £59,000. I have no power to make payments to any person in the nature of compensation for damage suffered.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the growing gravity of flooding every winter, partly through sea inundation and partly through river flooding; and whether he will institute an inquiry to ascertain how much of this frequent and very serious damage could be avoided?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI have been asked to reply. I am aware that a certain amount of flooding occurs during the576W winter but I am not aware that it is growing progressively more serious. On the contrary, I am of opinion that a large measure of improvement has resulted from the work carried out by Catchment Boards under the Land Drainage Act, 1930. There are at present 47 Catchment Boards in existence, and the estimated capital cost of those of their works which have been approved for a grant from State funds is over £7,300,000, whilst the Boards also carry out a considerable amount of regular maintenance work which does not rank for Government grant. In my view nothing would be added to the information already available by an inquiry such as my hon. Friend suggests.