§ MR. H. S. FOSTERI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the very serious damage to the cast coast, and particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk, which has been caused by the recent gales and the continuous encroachment of the sea; and whether he will consider the advisability of ordering a survey of the coast with a view to advising the local authorities as to the best means of coast defence and protection?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonMy attention has been called to the damage caused by recent gales to the coast, of Norfolk, and, at the request of 631 those interested in certain parts of that coast, I sent down an officer of the Board of Trade to inspect and confer. I am prepared, if desired, to do the same with respect to other portions of the east coast where the same necessity arises, and to give every assistance in the power of the Department to the constituted local authorities upon whom the responsibility rests, but the Board of Trade are not in a position to give general advice of the nature suggested.