§ 40. Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who was responsible for deciding whether or not to send a red flood warning for the River Hull, on 20th March; why a red warning was not issued, in view of the fact that it was the time of the equinoctial high tide, that all the conditions indicated an exceptionally high tide and that an unusually high tide had occurred on 18th March; and what was the height of the tide above that predicted.
Mr. VaneI have already explained in my reply on 15th June to the hon. and gallant Member why a red warning was not issued for the River Hull on 20th March. Under the East Coast flood2W warning system the decision to issue such warnings is taken by a technical officer. High water at Victoria Dock, Hull, exceeded the predicted level by 3.4 feet on the night in question, and as I told the hon. and gallant Member on 15th June, the unusual circumstances of this tide are being investigated.
§ 41. Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the causes of the flooding on the east side of the River Hull, between Sculcoats Bridge and Scott Street Bridge, at the last equinoctial high water spring tide; the number of wharves in this section of the river which have been surveyed and reported to the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board for flood alleviation works; and the number of notices which are to be served on owners in this section requiring them to raise their wharves above flood level.
Mr. VaneFlooding may have occurred from any of six sites on the east side of the River Hull between Sculcoats Bridge and Scott Street Bridge. I understand that these sites are at present being surveyed and that the survey on this stretch of the river will be completed in time for the Corporation's meeting next month when the question of serving notices on owners of defective wharves will be considered.