§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportions of the costs of flooding in the last 12 months for which figures are available can be attributed to increased run-off from land.
§ Mr. JackThe information requested is not available and could be obtained only by extensive surveys and flood modelling.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest information on the extent and costs of flooding of roads and property in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. JackSurveys of flood risk areas are undertaken by the National Rivers Authority at local level and the results made available to local authorities to inform the planning process. In addition, the Association of British Insurance has recently published a report entitled "Identification of Coastal Flood Areas in England and614W Wales", in collaboration with the National Rivers Authority and the Ministry.
Claims for flood damage to property are handled by insurance companies. The risk of flooding is reduced significantly through expenditure by Government and the responsible local agencies on the maintenance and improvement of flood defences.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that the change-over from grass or spring cereal crops to winter cereal crops contributes to the run-off from land.
§ Mr. JackGrass is the most effective type of vegetation for reducing the rate at which rainfall runs off from land, and there is evidence that agricultural practices which leave land without grass or crop cover can lead to an increased rate of run off. How spring cereals compare with winter cereals in this respect depends on local circumstances, but winter cereals may provide some limited crop cover—and hence surface water storage—in the winter months when rainfall is generally highest.