§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated probability of the Thames breaking its existing flood defences in any one year.
§ Mr. StrangThe risk of the tidal Thames reaching the level of the present defences is on average of the order of 50–1 against in any particular year.
§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many flood alerts there have been in London for each flood season since 1970–71.
§ Mr. StrangNo public flood warnings were issued in central London during this period. The number of alerts for which the London Flood Room was manned 185W and the number of public flood warnings issued in the area of Greater London bordering the Thames above Chiswick Eyot were as follows:
Season Alerts Public warnings in 'upstream' London 1970–71 7 1 1971–72 3 — 1972–73 8 — 1973–74 17 3 1974–75 26 5 1975–76 20 1 1976–77 — — 1977–78 (to 5th April 1978) 1 1