Dr. Cecil Beamish:

Yes, he referred to former Ministers and previous generations. Most Administrations have changed the responsibilities and structures of Departments over the years. It is not easy to draw inferences from things that date back such a long time as various responsibilities have been moved. Four or five years ago, for example, responsibility for coastal protection and protection as well as inland flooding was combined under the Office of Public Works, with a view to ensuring an integrated response in the context of climate change, flooding concerns and so forth. The position has changed substantially over the years. At one time the Department with responsibility for the marine was responsible for coastal flooding and erosion but this changed five or six years ago.