HC Deb 23 October 1946 vol 427 cc407-8W
Mr. McAdam

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the River Irwell was last dredged in the vicinity of the recently badly-flooded area of the city of Salford; when the banks of the river were last examined and repaired by the Mersey and Irwell Catchment Board; and what steps he is taking to mitigate any future flooding of the residential areas of the city.

Mr. T. Williams

The last dredging of the River Irwell was carried out by the catchment board in the years 1935–36 in the vicinity of the Manchester Racecourse. The banks of the Irwell have been inspected at frequent intervals up to September, 1946, and work on them has been carried out at the Manchester Racecourse during the present year. I have asked the board to furnish me in due course with a copy of their engineers' report on the causes of the recent flooding and I will communicate again with the hon. Member when I have had an opportunity of studying the report.