§ Sir M. Sueterasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the continually recurrent spring floodings and damage in the Fens and Thames Valley, and frequent shortages of water in dry summers, can be prevented either by canalisation or by controls as used on the Nile and in the Punjab; and why he has not utilised the obvious engineering correctives while there is available unemployed labour unsuited to rearmament work?
§ Commander Marsdenasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his staff includes experts accustomed to deal with the prevention of winter flooding and summer shortage of water; and has he considered asking the Government of India to lend him some of their irrigation department 1932W experts to advise him in co-operation with the local authorities concerned, in the preparation of schemes for ending the public annoyance caused nearly every year in the Thames Valley and Fen districts, by flooding or drought?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI do not think that conditions in this country are comparable with those on the Nile or in the Punjab, but in any case I have no power to carry out works of river control. The responsibility for such works in the case of the Thames and the rivers of the Fens rests with the various Catchment Boards concerned.