§ 73. Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any estimate of the total area of land on the coast of Wales which has been lost for economic purposes through erosion during the present century; at what points are the inroads of the sea at present most serious; and is he about to initiate any scheme, anywhere on the Welsh seaboard, to cope with this problem?
§ Captain BOWYERMy right hon. Friend has consulted with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The latest estimates available regarding the extent of coast erosion in 553 Wales are given in the final report of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion (1911), in which it is stated that Ordnance Surveys between 1864 and 1905 showed that the loss of land in nine Welsh counties amounted to 325 acres and the gain to 3,215 acres. It is impossible to say definitely at what points erosion is at present most serious, but complaints of erosion have been received from a number of districts within the past few years. In reply to the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend is not in a position to initiate any scheme of this kind. There is, however, no reason why Statutory Land Drainage and other local authorities should not be eligible to receive grants in suitable cases either from the. Ministry or the Unemployment Grants Committee as the case may be.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend that there is a definite feeling against either local or national money being expended to prevent the erosion of privately-owned land?