§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that sufficient funds are available to water authorities to enable them to carry out flood prevention work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Fenner[pursuant to her reply, 4 July 1983, c. 45]: Water authorities are subject to the same restraints on expenditure as other public authorities. Funds for water authorities' capital schemes are provided partly from local sources and partly from the Exchequer. Exchequer funds have continued to be available for essential flood prevention work. Funds from local ratepayers have to be balanced with the demands made by other local services.