§ Mr. BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual investment plan for spending is(a) on maintenance of flood defences, (b) to meet the guideline defence standards and (c) to account for possible climate change following the 'National Appraisal of Assets at Risk from 897W Flooding and Coastal Erosion, including the Potential Impact of Climate Change'; and what further allocations the Government plans to make in each of the next three years. [54272]
§ Mr. MorleyWith the benefit of Central Government funding, total expenditure by the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards on flood and coastal defence is forecast as follows:
£ million 2002–03 2003–04 Capital 219 232 Maintenance 90 90 Other 105 112 Total 414 434 DEFRA has asked operating authorities to take the indicative results of the National Assessment of Assets at Risk from Flooding and Coastal Erosion into account insofar as it is practicable to do so in this timescale. The level of Central Government funding for the next three years will depend on the outcome of the Spending Review.