59. Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements have been made for hiring, loaning or otherwise securing dredging and drain-digging equipment for the Ouse Catchment Board, Fen Drainage Commissioners and Fen farmers to hasten the clearance of drains before the coming winter.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsExcavators suitable for clearing blocked drains and farmers' ditches are in the hands of war agricultural executive committees and they will be loaned when necessary to drainage boards. The demands of the River Great Ouse Catchment Board and other boards for additional medium sized excavators will be met from a number on loan from the Army in Germany which are being brought to this country for flood rehabilitation work. The Ministry of Works is arranging to supply other forms of earth-moving equipment.