§ Mr. Bullardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to postpone the operation of Sections 22 and 23 of the Land Drainage Act, 1961, so as to give staffs of internal drainage authorities time to make the necessary modifications to the rate-books following upon the general revaluation for rating purposes in 1963.
Mr. VaneThe Association of Drainage Authorities has represented to me the difficulties with which drainage boards are faced in implementing the revised drainage rating arrangements in the time available before the financial year 1963–64. I cannot hold out any hope of legislation to postpone the operation of the Sections referred to. I appreciate, however, that drainage boards are faced with a heavy task, and with the cooperation of the Board of Inland Revenue and the local authorities, I am doing everything I can to help the drainage boards to carry out this work in time. We hope shortly to give further guidance to drainage boards on this matter.