§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will indicate the arrangements which will need to be applied, following the introduction of the community charge, to precept drainage rates for those internal drainage boards which are not properly constituted under the Land Drainage Act 1976.
§ Mr. GummerThe Internal Drainage Boards (Finance) Regulations 1990 which were laid before Parliament on 23 January, modify the powers of internal drainage boards to make and levy drainage rates under and in accordance550W with provisions of the Land Drainage Act 1976 or the provisions of any local Act. They apply to the raising of expenses for financial years commencing 1 April 1990.
§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements currently exist to ensure that internal drainage boards do not levy precepts on domestic dwellings that would otherwise be disproportionate to the resources devoted to agricultural land drainage; and whether any new arrangements will apply following the introduction of the community charge.
§ Mr. GummerThe arrangements for financing internal drainage boards have been modified in the light of the new system of local government finance operative from 1 April: the changes, including the proportions of a board's expenses to be raised by drainage rates on the agricultural sector and special levies on the non-agricultural sector via charging authorities, are set out in the Internal Drainage Boards (Finance) Regulations 1990 which were laid before Parliament on 23 January. Provision has been made for boards to continue to be able to levy differential amounts in respect of areas (sub districts) considered to benefit less from their operations. Also charging authorities will be entitled to appoint members to the boards to which they contribute by virtue of special levies.