§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many local authorities in England have applied for central Government financial assistance to alleviate the threat of coastal land erosion between 1979 and 1989; and how much money has been granted per annum to such schemes.
§ Mr. MacleanSince my Department became responsible for the administration of grant under the Coast Protection Act 1949 in 1985, a total of 55 local authorities have submitted proposals for approval and grant aid for schemes to protect against coastal erosion. We have no similar information for earlier years. Grant payments over the period from 1979 to 1989 have been as follows:
£ million 1979–80 5.7 1980–81 7.1 1981–82 8.3 1982–83 11.5 1983–84 11.5 1984–85 9.1 1985–86 7.8 1986–87 14.0 1987–88 9.8 1988–89 12.8