§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds of 24 April, Official Report, column 239, what are the problems about which he is in correspondence with the Anglian water authority on the subject of the Middle Level Transfer Order 1985; how soon he expects to resolve them; and if he will make a statement on the position of those farmers who contributed to the capital cost of providing the irrigation water they now are using under the terms of this order, pending its confirmation or extension.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his answer, 6 May 1986, c. 167.]: It has come to light that certain provisions of the order may require negative resolution procedure in that they appear to amend an earlier enactment. My officials are exploring urgently with officers of the authority what options are available for achieving an early decision on the scheme. While the Department will do everything it can to this end, the position of the farmers with an interest in the scheme is a matter between them and the water authority.