§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities will be unable to carry out necessary repairs under Section 5(6) of the Coast Protection Act because of insufficient funds.
§ Mr. ShoreSection 5(6) of the Coast Protection Act, 1949 allows coast protection authorities to carry out any work which appears to them to be urgently necessary for the protection of land in their area against erosion or encroachment by the sea. Such emergency work does not require my approval. Loan consent and grant aid are given subject to my Department's engineers being satisfied that the work is essential and technically sound.
§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to grant sufficient funds for work requested by the Thanet District Council for 34 sites in the Thanet area under Section 5(6) of the Coast Protection Act for 1977–78 to be carried out.
§ Mr. ShoreA decision on the Thanet District Council's 34-site scheme will be given as soon as possible. The scheme was submitted under the statutory procedure provided for by Section 5(i) of the Coast Protection Act 1949. As regards any coast protection work required under Section 5(6) of the Act, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I have given him today to his Question on this matter.