Flooding (Hansard, 14 January 1988)

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce a system of higher-rate grants or cheap loans to farmers in Wales for the construction of works and buildings to alleviate the effect on their enterprises of persistent flooding; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
Grants of 30 per cent. in the less-favoured areas and 15 per cent. outside the less-favoured areas are currently available to farmers for works and facilities to prevent the flooding of agricultural land by watercourses if such works form part of an approved plan under the agriculture improvement scheme. In addition, water authorities have permissive powers under the Land Drainage Act 1976 to undertake land drainage and flood protection works. I said in the House on 21 October last, at column 752, during the debate on the effects of flooding in Wales, that I would look into any problems that were drawn to my attention. I am still happy to do so.
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§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals for works to alleviate persistent flooding on major roads in mid-Wales; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
In consultation with the county council and the water authority we are continuing to investigate the causes of persistent flooding of the A483 and A487 trunk roads in North Powys and to seek to identify cost-effective remedies where needed. Non-trunk roads are the responsibility of the county highway authorities.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to alleviate farm losses caused by flooding in the Severn valley; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
Flood protection works are the responsibility of the Severn Trent water authority which, I understand, has a flood alleviation scheme for the confluence of the rivers Vyrnwy and Severn under initial consideration. Any works may be eligible for Government grant under the Land Drainage Act 1976. Otherwise farming is a commercial operation which should reasonably be expected to allow for the consequences of bad weather.