§ Sir W. JENKINSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that county councils through their elective catchment board have reported that the River Neath or Tawe in times of flood is a menace to the population through its bed being silted; and what steps the catchment board is taking to call upon the landowner to clear the river bed or, failing his compliance, to proceed with the work and claim the cost from the owner after notice has been served?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe River Neath is situated in the Mid-Glamorgan Rivers Catchment Area, the board of which was constituted under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, in April last. I have no information as to any representations made by county councils to that catchment board regarding the flooding of the river, but as the greater part of it is in fact marked as "main river" on the statutory map of the catchment area it is, to that extent, under the immediate and sole control for land drainage purposes of the catchment board. The latter part of the question does not therefore arise. The River Tawe is not at present situated in a catchment area, but it is understood that the rural district council of 1499W Pontardawe is proposing to arrange a conference of the local authorities concerned at an early date to discuss what steps should be taken by concerted action to deal with flood prevention in the area.