§ Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make any further statement with regard to the findings of the Royal Commission who investigated and reported on the question of land drainage; and can he state whether his Department has issued any orders to deal with problems in special areas?
Mr. GUINNESSThe surveys which are a necessary preliminary to any legislation on the lines recommended by the Royal Commission are being pressed forward. As recently announced by the Prime Minister, the Government propose to introduce such legislation as soon as practicable. In reply to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Doncaster Area Drainage Bill now before Parliament, which provides for the setting up of a drainage authority over the area in and around Doncaster, where there are special problems of land drainage consequent upon the mining operations in that area.