§ Mr. WardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government have any plans to develop a national plan on coastal defence which would include clear regional strategic plans for local authorities.
§ Mr. CurryIn allocating grant to the National Rivers Authority and to local authorities empowered under the Land Drainage Act 1976 and the Coast Protection Act 1949 to undertake coastal defence work, this Department has full information on the forward capital coastal defence programmes of those authorities, and gives highest priority to schemes giving protection to people arid property. The Department also funds the national flood and coastal defence research and development programme 201W with the aim inter alia, of developing understanding of coastal processes and improving design of coastal defences. This strategy ensures that Government funding is provided at the appropriate level and is used to the best possible effect. We have no plans to change the nature of these arrangements but we do expect to develop even closer liaison between this Department and authorities in order to add to the effectiveness of our respective planning procedures.