§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Minister of Agriculture whether any estimate has been formed of the net loss to agriculture caused by the floods in the Fens in 1936–37?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonNo, Sir. I am not aware of any such estimate.
§ Mr. De Chairasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) how long ago the Ouse Catchment Board first informed his Department that necessary flood precaution work in the Fens could not be undertaken owing to the board's inability to raise the 25 per cent. of the cost which would be necessary if the Ministry's offer of a 75 per cent. grant were accepted.
(2) in view of the announcement by the Ouse Catchment Board, after prolonged reconsideration of the matter, that it is unable to proceed with the flood prevention scheme in the Fens favoured by the Ministry owing to the impossibility in a thinly-populated area of raising the required sum of about £1,250,000 so long as the Government grant is limited to 75 per cent., whether he will reconsider the possibility of increasing the Government offer so that this urgent work may be proceeded with?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonCertain resolutions adopted by the Ouse Catchment Board at a meeting on 27th January appeared to suggest that it was from lack of necessary finance that the board felt unable to proceed with the Outfall Scheme, and that what they sought was an increase in the rate of Government grant for this scheme. At a subsequent discussion, however, on the 11th February, between officers of my Department and representatives of the board, it emerged that the board had decided on the advice of their engineer not to carry out any further capital work other than that on the Marsh Cut, which had already been decided upon, until that work had been completed and the result could be seen. In these circumstances no question arises as to an increased rate of Government grant.
I should add that, as at present advised, I do not consider that works confined to the Marsh Cut will provide adequately for the drainage of and prevention of flooding in the area. The decision as to what works shall be undertaken rests, however, entirely with the Catchment Board who are charged by the Land 2106W Drainage Act, 1930, with the responsibility for the drainage of the area under their jurisdiction; and I have no doubt that the board are acting with a full sense of their responsibilities.