§ Sir G. Jeffreysasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps the war agricultural executive committees are entitled to take in prescribing ordinary field drainage to cover the cost and on whom such cost falls?
Mr. HudsonDitch-clearing and under-drainage are regarded as falling within the scope of a county executive committee's power under Regulation 62 of the Defence Regulations and the Cultivation of Lands Order, 1939, to give directions with respect to the cultivation, management, or use of land for agricultural purposes. A direction would normally be given to" the person who is responsible for doing the work in question either under a tenancy agreement or as a matter of custom. The work would be eligible, at the discretion of the committee, for a Government grant of 50 per cent. of the approved cost, subject to a maximum grant of 30s. per acre for mole drainage and of £7 10s. per acre for tile drainage and other recognised forms of underdrainage.