§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food (1) what studies his Department has evaluated in respect of ways of stabilising the cliff erosion alongside the military road on the Isle of Wight; [36029]
(2) what representations he has received from the Isle of Wight council about funding coastal protection works to preserve the military road between Freshwater and Brightstone. [36027]
§ Mr. BoswellIt is the responsibility of the Isle of Wight council, as the coastal protection authority, rather than the Ministry, to commission and evaluate any such studies which they consider to be necessary. At this stage, the Ministry has received no formal representations from the council about funding works to protect the military road. If any works were designed solely to protect a road, funding would be the responsibility of the relevant highway authority and grant aid would not be available from this Department.