asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has in mind measures for meeting in future the needs of Scotland in the matter of agricultural drainage.

Yes, Sir, I have had this matter under consideration. In view of the importance to Scottish agriculture of adequate land drainage, I have appointed an independent Committee with the following terms of reference: To review the operation of drainage schemes carried out in Scotland under the Agriculture Act, 1937, the Land Drainage (Scotland) Acts, the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Acts, and emergency war-time powers; to examine the extent to which further large-scale drainage work is necessary and desirable in the interests of efficient agriculture; and to advise what legislative or other provision should be made to enable such further work to be carried out. With the permission of the House, I am arranging for the names of the members of the Committee to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that not only large-scale agricultural drainage schemes are to be considered by this committee, since smaller ones are equally important in their way, and in my own case I have been trying for seven years to get one field drained which has been impossible so far because of the lack of labour.

None of these questions will be ruled out of consideration so far as the Committee is concerned.

Following are the members of the Committee:

• Joseph Duncan, Esq., LL.D. (Chairman).
• Sir George Campbell, Bt.
• William Graham, Esq., C.B.E.
• George T. McGlashan, Esq.
• Harry H. Nicholson, Esq., M.A.
• Wilson M. Robertson, Esq., F.S.I.
• John Sullivan, Esq.