§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to whom internal drainage boards like the Kyle and Upper Ouse board are responsible; and to whom they report.
§ Mr. StrangI have been asked to reply.
The Kyle and Upper Ouse internal drainage board, like the great majority of such boards, is responsible within the statutory constraints of the Land Drainage Act 1976 to the drainage ratepayers who elect it. Urban ratepayers within the Ryedale district are represented on the board by members appointed by and responsible to the Ryedale district council under an agreement made under section 81 of the Land Drainage Act 1976. Under schedule 2 to the same Act, all internal drainage boards are required to send my right hon. Friend the Minister an annual return in annual return of income and expenditure.