§ 27 and 28. Mr. PYBUSasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, to prevent the continuance of coast erosion, he will call a conference with a view to reconciling the differences between the interests concerned and allowing an amended Bill to proceed through the House;
(2) whether, in view of the difficulties in passing a Coast Protection Bill, he will as a temporary measure introduce legislation to prevent the weakening of the coast defences by the removal of gravel from the foreshore?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI would refer the hon. Member to replies previously given 1434 on this subject and especially to the replies given by the Prime Minister and myself to the hon. and gallant Member for Louth (Lieut.-Colonel Heneage) on the 29th January, 1930, and the 3rd February last, respectively. Progress cannot be made with any Bill on this subject in the absence of agreement between the interests concerned, and there is no evidence that renewed efforts on my part would lead to agreement.
§ Mr. PYBUSIs it possible that the cause of this disagreement is that the Measure is of too comprehensive a nature, and would it not be possible to secure agreement on a Measure of a less ambitious character?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat, certainly, was part of the case when we discussed this subject on the last occasion, but I am afraid that I cannot agree that a less comprehensive Measure would be sufficient for this purpose; and I am sorry to add that the interests concerned do not look like coming to an agreement even now.