§ Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the measures taken by the Ouse Catchment Board to limit the risk of floods in the Bentley area, Doncaster; what further action is contemplated; and what financial contribution will be made by the various local authorities and the Exchequer, respectively?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe River Ouse (Yorks) Catchment Board have constructed a bank, called the Thorpe Marsh Barrier Bank, which is designed to limit the risk of floods in the Bentley area, and the efficacy of this bank was demonstrated during the recent period of abnormal rainfall. The Catchment Board have also since 1934 been carrying out a comprehensive scheme of improvements on the Dutch River and the River Don, between Goole and Doncaster. The Dutch River between Rawcliffe Bridge and New Bridge has been partially widened, and a start has recently been made with the partial widening of the River Don between New Bridge and Jubilee Bridge, on which work four dragline excavators are now engaged. The scheme is estimated to take about seven years to complete. These works form part of a comprehensive scheme embracing the Upper Don and other rivers in the Catchment Area, and are estimated to cost at least £1,200,000, towards which a Government grant of 33⅓ per cent. of the cost has been promised.
Following is a statement showing the percentage contributed by each County 1152W and County Borough Council of the total of the precepts at present levied by the Catchment Board:
Counties. Percent. Percent. Chester Nil. Derby 3.4359 Lancaster .0340 Lincoln — parts of Lindsey Nil. Nottingham .0028 Westmorland Nil. York, East Riding .6608 York, North Riding 2.5521 York, West Riding 32.7045 39.3901 County Boroughs. Bradford 10.7594 Huddersfield 4.0350 Leeds 16.9723 Sheffield 15.1352 York 2.7537 Halifax 2.8382 Wakefield 1.7519 Dewsbury 1.4925 Doncaster 1.4278 Barnsley 1.6698 Rotherham 1.7741 60.6099 100.0000