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Coast Erosion

Volume 474: debated on Thursday 27 April 1950

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62.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the estimated average annual acreage lost by coast erosion throughout Great Britain; what is the total area of land at the present moment under reclamation; and what land has been reclaimed since 1945.

I understand that no recent estimates of the acreage lost annually by coast erosion are available. About 1,000 acres are at present under reclamation in Scotland and a further 700 acres are being considered for reclamation in England. Although the total acreage reclaimed since 1945 cannot be accurately stated, at least 3,000 acres are known to have been reclaimed in this period in England and 3,500 acres in Scotland.

If the Minister has no recent figures how can this rather serious problem be watched? In view of the ever-diminishing area of agricultural land, would the right hon. Gentleman say what large-scale schemes exist for the reclamation of land and the prevention of coast erosion?

Coast erosion is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who has no figures other than those which I have given.

I know of no schemes of reclamation of this kind in Wales; otherwise I should have given the figures.