asked the Minister of Health the steps he proposes to take to prevent the River Hayle in West Cornwall from flooding the districts of St. Erth and Relubbus in future.

I have no powers to take direct action. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply has accepted respon- sibility for restoring the river near St. Erth as it was before the wartime operations for recovering tin. He has suggested that the West Penrith Rural District Council should carry out the work as his agent. I understand that the Council wish to include this in a larger scheme to prevent flooding along the whole length of the river and we await their proposals.

While appreciating the steps which the local authority and the Minister of Health have taken in this matter, may I ask the Minister to do his best to ensure that the steps are effected before next winter, as these are recurring floods and they occasioned particularly acute distress last winter?

I will certainly give all the help that my power and material permit but the floods have been happening for a long time.