§ 10. Mr. G. Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special consideration is given to schemes of improvement proposed by river boards serving areas scheduled as development districts under the Local Employment Act, 1960.
§ 14. Mr. C. Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state his policy towards the grant-aiding of drainage improvement schemes.
§ Mr. SoamesI am anxious to help river boards in carrying out their work and I can grant-aid the cost of a scheme2W for the improvement of existing works or construction of new works where I am satisfied that the scheme is sound from an engineering point of view and that the cost is reasonable in relation to the benefits to be obtained from the scheme.
The capital investment allocation for land drainage and flood prevention is being increased by £½ million in 1963–64, which will enable some increase in the scale of work to be made and so have an effect on the level of employment in particular areas. My Department is giving special attention to all proposals from river boards in areas of high or persistent unemployment.