§ Mr. David LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the action required in(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to protect against the risk of coastal erosion; [89749]
(2) what assessment her Department made in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 about the risk of coastal erosion. [89748]
§ Margaret BeckettThis Department has overall policy responsibility for coastal erosion risk but operational responsibility, for assessing risks, identifying the need for defence measures and deciding which projects to promote and their timing, rests with local authorities. However, as an aid for the planning by all flood and coastal operating authorities, DEFRA commissioned research into a National Appraisal of the Assets at Risk from flooding and coastal erosion. The results were published in 2000 and 2001.
Local authorities submit their medium term plans for capital works to reduce the risk of coast protection to DEFRA annually to inform our decisions on the allocation of funds.