HC Deb 19 January 1999 vol 323 cc452-3W
Mr. Gummer

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much in percentage terms(a) the highest rate of grant for coastal defence work and (b) the normal rate of grant have been reduced since 1997. [66042]

Mr. Morley

The rates of grant available to maritime district councils for approved capital coast protection works have remained unchanged at 35 per cent., 45 per cent., 55 per cent., 65 per cent. and 75 per cent. since 1992. The formula used to determine which rate of grant is applicable to specific works was subject to significant change with effect from 1 April 1997, with a view to bringing the direct government contribution to the national programme within the range 50 to 55 per cent. The announcement of that change was made in November 1996 by the previous administration. The only change to the formula since then was an adjustment by 2 per cent, in line with inflation, made with effect from 1 April 1998.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish his proposals for coastal protection co-ordination for the rest of the period covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review. [66040]

Mr. Morley

Coast protection authorities are encouraged to work within the policy framework published in the "Strategy for Flood and Coastal Defence in England and Wales". As confirmed in the response to the Agriculture Select Committee's report on Flood and Coastal Defence, the Government consider there is scope to enhance the effectiveness of the current arrangements, to improve the co-ordination that takes place and to help ensure delivery of the national strategy. This will be achieved by developing the way in which the Environment Agency exercises its current general flood defence supervisory duty and seeking to establish national targets for all operating authorities. These targets will be published in due course.

The Ministry's concept of Shoreline Management Plans and strategic planning was developed to encourage operating authorities to work together, to consider the impact of their schemes on neighbouring authorities and overall to improve decision-making. The first generation of such Plans is now nearing completion, and all should be published by Spring 1999.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will initiate a review of the Halcrow study on coastal defence. [66043]

Mr. Morley

The Ministry commissioned Halcrows, as lead consultants, to produce the "Coast Protection Survey of England"; it was published in 1994. The survey was reviewed in 1995 and 1996, but these updates showed that the rate of change in the state of defences did not warrant such frequent reviews. Action in 1997 was therefore confined to a review of authorities' plans in respect of defences identified as being in most urgent need of repair. Consideration will now be given to the future development of an asset database of all flood and coastal defences irrespective of operating authority.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Minister is in overall charge of the UK's strategy for meeting the challenge of climate change and sinkage in coastal areas. [66045]

Mr. Morley

Within Government, overall responsibility for climate change rests with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. So far as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is concerned, I oversee policies, including the implications for flood and coastal defence, though my right hon. Friend the Minister has overall policy responsibility.