§ Mr. Barry Fieldasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on the finances of South Wight borough council of the reduction in the rate of grant payable for approved coast protection schemes; and what steps he intends to take to mitigate these effects.
§ Mr. GummerThe revised maximum grant rate will come into operation only for coast protection schemes submitted after 30 September. There will therefore be no effect on schemes already approved.
As for future schemes, I can make no estimate of the effect the new maximum rate may have, since consideration of the particular schemes to be submitted from its area is a matter for the South Wight borough council, not for my Department.