§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of people in England and Wales on whom a drainage rate is levied; and if he will make proposals to abolish drainage rates or to exempt from payment.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartInformation about the number of people on whom a drainage rate is levied is not readily available. We have no proposals for abolishing the present system of rating for drainage purposes, but there are provisions in the Land Drainage Acts for considering applications for exemption from drainage rates on the ground that no benefit is derived from the activities of the Internal Drainage Board concerned.