Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 22 October (HL10504), whether they intend to establish an independent review of the effectiveness of (1) Coastal Protection Authorities, and (2) Shoreline Management Plans, in managing flood risk.

Coastal change, through erosion or flooding, has always been a risk for those living and working by the sea.

The Environment Agency has strategic oversight of Shoreline Management Plans (20 in England), which are the responsibility of Coastal Protection Authorities. These plans set the direction and preferred management option over a 100 year timeframe and are under-pinned by evidence and a high level economic, social, and environmental assessment.

Over the next three years, we and the Environment Agency (EA) are working closely with the coastal authorities, including funding of £1 million, to refresh Shoreline Management Plans, to ensure that there is consistency and that they are using the best, most up to date evidence. This programme will ensure the Shoreline Management Plans and Coastal Protection Authorities remain effective in light of the most recent UK climate change predictions which will be published later this month.

The EA are also funding a £23 million, five year programme of regional coastal monitoring by these groups, to support decision making.