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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee in its 2021 Progress Report to Parliament, published on 24 June, to make Shoreline Management Plans statutory.

We will formally respond to the Climate Change Committee’s detailed recommendations in October.

Adapting to the current and predicted changes to our climate is vital. The UK is already leading the fight against climate change by delivering on our world-leading target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Environment Agency is working with coastal protection authorities on a £1 million refresh of Shoreline Management Plans. This will ensure that they are up to date, using the best evidence in their recommendations and focus attention on priority areas for investment and adaptation.

Last year, the Government published our long-term Policy Statement which sets out our ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. The Policy Statement includes five policies and over 40 supporting actions which will accelerate progress to better protect and better prepare the country against flooding and coastal erosion in the face of more frequent extreme weather as a result of climate change.

This includes a commitment to review national policy for Shoreline Management Plans to ensure they are transparent, continuously review outcomes and enable local authorities to make robust decisions for their areas. As part of this we will engage with stakeholders, including the Environment Agency and Coastal Protection Areas to consider the Committee’s views that Shoreline Management Plans should be made Statutory.