§ Mr. Dunnasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department are taking any extraordinary measures to deal with the repeated flooding of the Rother Valley; is he aware that the inhabitants of Beighton, Woodhouse, Catcliffe, and Canklow, are living in constant fear of the approaching winter season on account of flooding; and whether remedial measures other than those adopted by the Ouse Catchment Board can be instituted?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am aware that the Rother Valley has been liable to flooding for many years. The drainage scheme which is being carried out by the Yorkshire Ouse Catchment Board includes provision for the improvement of the River Rother. It is not, however, possible for these remedial measures to be undertaken until more progress has been made with the improvement works which are now proceeding on the River Don. At the present time extensive works on the Rother would merely result in more serious flooding down-stream.