§ 4. Mr. Andrew Dismore (Hendon)If he will make a statement on progress of the flood prevention scheme for Edgware and Burnt Oak.[137135]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Elliot Morley)I understand that the Environment Agency submitted a planning application for the Silk stream flood alleviation scheme at the end of October and that consideration is currently being given to when the work might commence.
§ Mr. DismoreMy constituents very much welcome that scheme, but are concerned about the time that it is taking. After the floods in 1992, the previous Government did nothing about trying to sort out the flooding problems in my constituency. My constituents are concerned that 1058 after planning permission is given, it could take up to nine months for the scheme to be approved by the Ministry, and a further year before construction work can start, with a planned finish date of 2005. Will my hon. Friend assure me that he will do all that he can to make sure that that time scale is shortened, if that is practical?
§ Mr. MorleyThe fact that the scheme has been submitted for planning permission is an important milestone in its development. In due course, it will come to the Ministry, where its environmental and technical merits will be evaluated, as I am sure my hon. Friend understands. Following the announcement of an extra £51 million for flood defence, it is possible for the Environment Agency to make decisions on prioritising schemes. Those decisions are made locally in relation to the agency's own programmes.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)May I, on this one occasion, endorse the call of the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) for the speediest and most efficacious action on that front? I am making that request and going across party lines to endorse the hon. Gentleman's call because my mother is a constituent of his. Although she lives in Mill Hill, not Edgware or Burnt Oak, she is extremely apprehensive about the matter, which is the one subject on which she is vociferous in her support for the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. MorleyThe hon. Gentleman's mother is fortunate in being so well represented. As we have heard, my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore), who is her Member of Parliament, is assiduous in making sure that the scheme is brought forward.