§ Mr. Staintonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what options are available from April 1978 for the raising of land drainage finance: 715W what are the local land drainage committees in Suffolk; what have been their responses to his Department's letter of 22nd February 1977; and if he will review the area boundaries as they affect Felixstowe.
§ Mr. StrangWater authorities have the option, after 31st March 1978, of continuing to finance their land drainage expenditure through precepts on the county councils and general drainage charges, or of applying to my right hon. Friend the Minister for a water charges option order under Section 62 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 enabling them to use the water charges as their main source of land drainage revenue.
Local land drainage committees are based on catchment areas which cut across administrative boundaries. Suffolk falls within the areas of the Essex, the Great Ouse, and the Norfolk and Suffolk Local Land Drainage Committees of the Anglian Water Authority. The authority has indicated, in response to the Department's letter of 22nd February 1977, and on the recommendation of its regional and local land drainage committees, that it is not its intention to apply for a water charges option order.
Any necessary review of the boundaries of the Norfolk and Suffolk Local Land Drainage District, in which Felixstowe lies, would have to be initiated by the Regional Land Drainage Committee of the Water Authority. Schemes by water authorities for alteration of the boundaries of local land drainage districts must be prepared by them and submitted to the Minister for approval.
§ Mr. Staintonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that the land drainage bye-laws in force in some water authority areas are of long standing and are those of the predecessor river authorities, and in particular that those in the area of the Anglian Water Authority were implemented between 1939 and 1973, if he is satisfied that appropriate steps are in hand to ensure reasonable uniformity of application throughout England without further delay.
§ Mr. StrangUnder Section 34 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 responsibility for making drainage byelaws is placed on drainage authorities. Each water716W authority must decide for itself what action if any should be taken to replace and standardise the byelaws of its predecessor authority. Two water authorities have already submitted new byelaws for confirmation and I am aware that most of the others, including the Anglian Water Authority, are considering the problem. I am, however, arranging to remind them all of the desirability of uniformity within their areas.