asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the fact that the configuration of Portland constitutes a national problem, that Portland is largely used by the Armed Forces of the Crown, the prison service and other Government agencies and in the light of recent flood damage, he will seek to make a special contribution to the cost of repairs.

The Land Drainage Act 1976, which governs the payment of grant towards the cost of sea defences, does not allow payment to be made in respect of repair work. However, where the repairs can be regarded as the initial phase of an improvement scheme, the cost may eventually be eligible for grant aid.