Written question asked by John Denham (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the agencies that have responsibilities for planning for the consequences of climate change on coastal areas; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the agencies that have responsibilities for planning for the consequences of climate change on coastal areas; and if she will make a statement. [137391] Mr. Morley: All agencies whose areas of work and influence will be affected by climate change, in coastal areas and elsewhere, have a responsibility to plan for the consequences of those changes. Development planning in coastal areas is the responsibility of local planning authorities, while land and shoreline management is the responsibility of land owners, the Environment Agency and local athorities. This Department provides guidance and assistance to planners in coastal areas by funding the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), other research and development programmes and by promoting the production of Shoreline Management Plans which are designed to assist local planners in making decisions on future development and coastal defence needs over a 30-100 year period, taking account of natural processes and climate change effects. The Department has provided guidance on sea-level rise allowances for design of coastal defences since 1989 and these were confirmed this year in the light of the UKCIP 2002 climate-change scenarios.

Secondary information