§ 35. Mr. PYBUSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the present position of the Coast Protection Bill, nothing has been done to retard the coast erosion in certain small parishes on the Essex coast, which 241 are financially unable to carry out any sea-defence works as a 1d, rate in such parishes produces under £20; and whether he will consider some emergency legislation to deal with cases of this kind until some larger co-ordinating measure can be passed into law?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI am aware that erosion is occurring in Essex as well as in other districts, and the measures recommended by the Royal Commission are embodied in the Coast Protection Bill now before the House. A large number of amendments have been put down to that Bill and the Government have shown by their own amendments how far they are prepared to meet the main difficulties. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to prepare an abbreviated Bill. I may remind the hon. Member that, subject to certain conditions, grants are available for the construction and repair of sea defence works through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Unemployment Grants Committee.