asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current procedure he uses for assessing claims for Exchequer grants submitted by coast protection authorities under the provisions of the Coast Protection Act 1949, part I, section 21.

The technical soundness of the proposals and their suitability as a solution to the problem is examined by my engineering staff. The value of the benefits to be derived is set against the costs so as to measure the economic worthwhileness of the proposals. Confirmation is obtained that notices have been served and the proposals advertised as required by the Coast Protection Act 1949 and that there are no objections from other Government Departments concerned, from neighbouring coast protection authorities whose coastline could be affected, from local fishery, harbour, and navigation bodies, or from environmental interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate for each yea' from 1976 to 1986 inclusive the names of the coast protection authorities submitting applications for Exchequer grants under the Coast Protection Act 1949, the estimated cost at the time of tender of each individual application and the amount of the grant awarded for each individual application.

Information for the period since 1 April 1985 is in the tables. Information for earlier periods before my Department assumed responsibility for these grants is not readily available and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.