§ Captain BULLOCKasked the Minister of Health (1) whether his attention has been called to the fact that the coast erosion at Blundellsands is becoming more acute after each gale; and whether any assistance can be given by the Government to prevent its continuance;
(2) whether, in view of the difficulties in making progress with legislation to deal with the problem of coast erosion in this country and the need for protective schemes on various parts of the coast, he will consider the desirability of arranging for substantial Government grants to be available for all necessary and agreed schemes for this purpose?
§ Dr. BURGINI have been asked to reply. A number of coast erosion problems are closely allied with problems of land drainage, and therefore come within the purview of catchment area authorities constituted under the Land Drainage Act, 1930. So far as this is the case, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is prepared, within the limited resources at his disposal, to consider for a Government grant, any scheme of an urgent character submitted by a catchment board. With regard to the specific case raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, Blundellsands is situated within the River Alt catchment area and the coast erosion in this district is attributed to the course of the river being almost at the foot of the sandhills. Various schemes have been considered for many years past for the improvement of the Alt outfall, but the cost has been prohibitive. The catchment board now have a further scheme under consideration in connection with which it is understood that they contemplate applying for a Government grant under Section 55 of the Land Drainage Act, 1930. Due consideration will be given to the board's application as soon as details of the scheme are available.