§ Mr. Sharpasked the Minister of Agriculture what action has been taken by the Ouse Catchment Board to prevent a recurrence of flooding in the Calder Valley at Mirfield, and in the Spen Valley at Liversedge.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsFlooding in the Calder Valley arises mainly from the past development of land which constitutes the natural flood path of the river. Substantial alleviation could only be secured by demolishing existing factories, houses and other buildings. The cost of this would be very great indeed and would involve a considerable loss of industrial capacity. The Spen Valley is not the responsibility64W of the Yorkshire Ouse Catchment Board and is not within an internal drainage district. It falls to the appropriate local authorities, therefore, to carry out such remedial steps as are possible, but the difficulties in this instance are largely similar to those in the Calder Valley.