§ Captain De Chairasked the Minister of Agriculture by whose orders and under what powers a certain stretch of the River Wissey is being widened and deepened; for what purpose this is being done; what acreage would benefit from the scheme and on what acreage is a special rate at 861W £2 10s. per acre being levied, which would impose a heavy financial burden on the landowners through whose property this part of the river passes, without any corresponding benefit to their land; and whether he will stop the scheme while the whole matter is reviewed?
Mr. HudsonThis scheme, which consists of cutting back the banks and dredging the bed of a ten mile stretch of the River Wissey and replacing small bridges, is about to be carried out by the River Great Ouse Catchment Board at the request of the Norfolk War Agricultural Executive Committee and with my approval under Section 14 of the Agriculture , (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act, 1940. The object of the scheme is to improve the drainage of approximately one thousand acres of agricultural land, the value of which for agricultural purposes will, in the opinion of the Committee and the Board, be increased in consequence of the work. The estimated cost is approximately £5,000 and the actual cost, less a grant of 50 per cent. from my Department, is recoverable by the Board from the owners of the land. The basis of apportionment of the cost between the lands concerned is at present under review by the Board in consultation with the Committee. In view of the urgent necessity for increased food production, I cannot agree to postpone the work.