§ Captain C. Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will provide a list of the schemes of work at present being undertaken by the Essex Rivers Catchment Board and which will have the effect of preventing the flooding of dwelling-houses which this winter would certainly be flooded if the schemes were not carried out.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply of 24th August last. The wartime works of capital and of maintenance now being carried out by the Essex Rivers Catchment Board, whilst primarily directed to improving the drainage or avoiding the flooding of agricultural land, also, to a greater or lesser degree, affect residential property, particularly in the case of sea defence works. As my hon. and gallant Friend may be aware, the Board propose to consider at an early date a post war programme which will be of direct benefit in relation to flood prevention in residential areas. The Board will deal with these works in order of priority, but the whole scheme would take several years to carry out. Such a programme would call for a considerable expansion of the Board's organisation and involve greatly increased expenditure.