§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the tidal surge warnings now provided by the Meteorological Office for the west and east coasts can be extended to include the south coast.
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§ Mrs. FennerWhereas East coast surges can be monitored by the storm tide warning service from the north of Scotland progressively down the North sea, making it possible to produce warnings of up to 12 hours, surges reach the south and west coastlines with very little warning and for them it is not possible to produce reliable forecasts.
The STWS does provide some information to water authorities along these two coasts, but it lacks the precision and reliability of that for the east coast. Work is, however, in progress to find improved ways of forecasting surges along the south and west coasts.