§ Mr. Mitchisonasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that on 28th November, 1955, his officers proposed to lay an underground pipe on land belonging to, Mr. J. T. Eady, Pytchley Lodge, near Kettering; that on 28th January, 1956, Mr. Eady asked, by 251W letter, for certain conditions to be observed; that no answer has been sent to that letter; that the contractors concerned on 19th March drove a bulldozer through two farm fences and left a gap through which attested cattle could have strayed from the field, and that on the following day the contractors in the course of their work divided the field in two and prevented the cattle from getting water; what were the reasons for the failure to answer Mr. Eady's letter and for the unnecessary disturbances caused by this method of carrying out the work; and what steps he, proposes to take to compensate Mr. Eady and to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in other cases.
252W
§ Mr. BirchI much regret that these incidents should have taken place. I have issued instructions which will I hope obviate any difficulty in future. I apologise to Mr. Eady for what has occurred. If he submits a claim for compensation we shall of course consider it.