§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has made a recent assessment of the state of flood defences.
§ Mr. Maclean[pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 8 March 1990, c. 994]: I am sorry that some incorrect information was provided about grant rates available for flood protection work. At present, under the Land Drainage Act 1976, grant may be paid to the National Rivers Authority at one of four basic rates—15, 30, 45 and 55 per cent. In addition, a supplement of 15 per cent. is added for work to protect against flooding from the sea and tidal rivers. From April this supplement will increase to 20 per cent. and the maximum grant available will therefore be 75 per cent. For local authorities, the basic rate for flood defence work is 26 per cent. The 15 per cent. sea and tidal supplement may also apply at present and, again, the supplement will rise to 20 per cent. in April. Where local authorities carry out work under the Coast Protection Act 1949, grant may be payable within the range 24 to 70 per cent.