§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the components and weightings are of the economic tests applied to proposals for(a) coastal protection and (b) flood prevention. [16608]
§ Mr. MorleyThis Department provides funding for coast protection and flood alleviation capital works that meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. To ensure that value is obtained for taxpayers' money the economic criteria for all works are that (a) the benefits outweigh the costs and (b) the most economically efficient option, commensurate with achieving an appropriate level of protection, is identified. The most recent guidance for operating authorities on the aspects to be covered in the economic appraisal of both coast protection and flood alleviation schemes was published in 1999.