§ 100. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture what representations he has received from the several river boards in the country, calling his attention to the 30W need for amending legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Heneage Report; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI have received representations from the Wear and Tees River Board about the Heneage Committee's Report and on this I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) on 17th December, 1953.
To avoid misunderstanding, I should add that river boards are already empowered to secure contributions from owners of land within internal drainage districts, where they have been constituted, towards the cost of works on main river from which they derive benefit or avoid danger. The Heneage Committee recommended an extension of the river boards' land drainage functions to cover channels additional to those for which they are at present responsible as main river; and it was in this context that they proposed a new charge on all land in the river board area that is not subject to local or drainage rates.