§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress is being made in dealing with the prevention of flooding of the River Thames valley; and what are the prospects in this connection.
§ Mr. GodberI have been asked to reply.
The Thames Conservancy has constantly under review the alleviation of flooding in the valley of the non-tidal 263W Thames, and has recently completed or initiated grant-aided works at Crawley, East Molesey and Esher, and Maidenhead. In the tidal reaches, the Kent and Essex River Boards have, since the East Coast floods of 1953, carried out several major grant-aided schemes to improve the defence works. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and my Ministry are engaged in consultations with the interested authorities about the suggested Thames Flood Barrage.