§ Mr. Moateasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet been able to form an assessment of the costs of repairing and improving sea 796W defences to prevent a recurrence of the type of flooding that occurred on 11th and 12th January; and what central Government grants are available for this purpose.
§ Mr. StrangThe two authorities mainly responsible for the sea defences on the East and Kent coasts—that is, the Anglian and Southern Water Authorities—have estimated that the cost of repairing the defences damaged on 11th-12th January will amount to nearly £2 million. No estimates can be made of the cost of improvements until a more detailed study has been made.
There are no statutory powers to grant aid repairs as such, but where the work can be regarded as a necessary part of an improvement scheme it may be eligible for grant aid of up to 85 per cent, under the Land Drainage Act 1976.