§ Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the recommendations on land drainage contained in the Heneage Report.
Mr. AmoryYes. The Government have reluctantly come to the conclusion that, in view of the divergent opinions held by the interests concerned, it would not be justifiable at present to implement the main recommendations of the 41W Heneage Report under which all intermediate watercourses not now the responsibility of a drainage authority would be taken over by River Boards, and additional finance would be provided by means of a national charge on agricultural land outside internal drainage districts. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that on many of these intermediate watercourses improvement works, together with subsequent maintenance, are necessary, and that additional powers are needed to enable such works to be undertaken as and when they are required. I am therefore arranging for consultations with the associations concerned, and I hope that it may be possible to reach agreement on proposals designed to secure progressive improvements in this field.