HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc134-6W
Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the effects of(a) managed retreat and (b) managed realignment in the Suffolk, Coastal constituency. [163752]

Mr. Morley

I have made no such estimates.

The relevant operating authorities, the Environment Agency (EA), Suffolk Coastal District Council and Waveney District Council, produced a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) in 1998 for the coastline between Lowestoft and Harwich setting out recommended coastal defence policies. It is due to be reviewed later this year.

There were four strategic options included in the SMP: "Do Nothing", "Hold the Existing Line", "Advance the Existing Line" and "Retreat the Existing Line".

There are two main stretches of coastline in the Suffolk, Coastal constituency where the recommended policy is to retreat the existing line. They are:

  1. from Benacre to Easton Bavents, and
  2. from Walberswick to north of Sizewell Power Station.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the(a) speed and (b) extent of coastal erosion in the Suffolk Coastal constituency at (i) Covehithe, (ii) Dunwich and (iii) Bawdsey. [163754]

Mr. Morley

I have made no such estimates. This Department has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence but local operating authorities are responsible for monitoring the coastline and considering what measures to take. However the Department has provided grant aid to the operating authorities for studies on coastal processes which will inform the review of the Shoreline Management Plan for this frontage which will commence later this year.

The current SMP shows the predicted coastline in the year 2073 and gives the estimated value of the total land at risk through projected erosion as £6.26 million.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the value of the land and buildings in the Suffolk Coastal constituency that will be lost in the next(a) 10, (b) 25 and (c) 50 years under current sea defence policies; [163755]

(2) what information and advice she has given to the owners and occupiers of homes and farmland at East Lane, Bawdsey, about the protection she will afford them by way of coastal defences. [163756]

Mr. Morley

Defra officials have replied to correspondence about East Lane, Bawdsey, by explaining the relative responsibilities of the Department and local operating authorities, and the arrangements for funding improved defences within a national priority system.

I understand that the Environment Agency (EA) have also corresponded with and met local residents, including landowners, Internal Drainage Board members and the Parish Council. The EA has provided advice on the short term and longer term options for the management of sea defences at East Lane, Bawdsey.

The EA and Suffolk Coastal District Council jointly held a public meeting on 17 June 2003 when the situation at East Lane was explained to local residents.

Residents of properties at risk in areas of flooding have been offered the opportunity to receive a direct warning of flooding from the EA.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) at what point between the sea and the village of Bawdsey she intends to protect the coastline; how much land she expects to lose before that point is reached; and what time scale she envisages for that erosion; [163757]

(2) when she expects to define the shoreline in Bawdsey, Suffolk, that she will defend. [163758]

Mr. Morley

These are primarily matters for the local operating authorities.

The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) published in 1998 showed the predicted coastline position in the year 2073 (ie 75 years from the date the plan was prepared).

For the coastal frontage at Bawdsey the SM P recommended policy was to hold the existing line in the short term. I understand that the subsequent studies undertaken since have confirmed this policy but this will no doubt be considered again this year's review of the SMP. However consideration of Defra funding for any improved defences is dependent on those defences meeting the technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieving an appropriate priority score.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has held with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the historic importance of Martello towers. [164250]

Mr. Morley

Defra has had no direct discussion with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the specific issue of Martello towers. English Heritage (EH) is the Government's statutory adviser on matters concerning the conservation of England's historic built environment and is represented on Defra's Stakeholder Forum to inform the Government's new Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management. Defra consults EH as necessary and did so for example during development of guidance on environmental appraisal of flood and coastal defence projects and of the priority scoring system for flood and coastal defence projects for Defra grant aid.

Economic justification for proposed defences should take benefits arising from protection of such assets into account as far as possible. A small specific allowance is made for protection of heritage assets in the priority scoring system.

I understand the Environment Agency has consulted EH as part of the consultation process for the development of proposals to protect assets, including a Martello tower, at East Lane, Bawdsey in the right hon. Member's constituency.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what value she places on the presentation of the line of Martello towers from Felixstowe to Aldeburgh. [165488]

Mr. Morley

Defra has not found it necessary to allocate a specific value to these particular assets as part of general policy development or implementation. In the context of reducing the risk of flooding or coastal erosion to such assets, it would fall to the relevant operating authorities—Environment Agency or local authority—to decide upon appropriate measures and the extent to which the benefits to be gained from investing in defences would justify the cost.

Proposals to use Defra grant aid for the purpose must meet the Department's economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve the threshold priority score for the year in which the works start. Economic justification for proposed defences should take benefits arising from protection of assets into account as far as possible. The Department has recognised the need to preserve national heritage and a small specific allowance is made for protection of heritage assets in the priority scoring system.