§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much spending on sea defences was authorised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for each of the last four years; and how much was provided by(a) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (b) local authorities. [4117]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approved in each year coastal defence capital works meeting specified criteria for grant aid. The speed at which such works are constructed and hence expenditure incurred and grant claimed, is a matter for the operating authorities. The table shows(a) the actual outturn on the grant eligible capital programme for coastal defences by category of operating authority, and (b) the amount of grant paid by the Ministry. For local authorities grant can be paid in advance one year for work to be undertaken early in the next, whereas actual outturn will record the work completed in the year, so comparisons may be misleading.
627W
£million 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) Sea defence Environment Agency 29.9 21.9 18.1 12.4 20.3 14.0 117.9 12.5 Local authorities 2.5 0.7 0.5 — 1.2 0.7 2.6 1.3 Local authorities coast protection 42.2 24.2 43.6 24.1 35.4 24.7 33.1 11.9 Total 74.6 46.8 62.2 36.5 56.9 39.4 53.6 25.7 1Estimated The net of grant costs of the programme are largely met (i) in the case of the Environment Agency by levies on local authorities, and (ii) in the case of local authorities' own works by the provision of Supplementary Credit Approvals for borrowing cover. Both are reflected in the calculation of Standard Spending Assessments and Revenue Support Grant.