§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement outlining how future maintenance costs of the Thames flood defences, including the Thames barrier will be funded;
(2) what representations he has received from the Thames regional flood defence committee over the possible future maintenance costs of the Thames flood defences by the turn of the century and the limited time period over which it will be necessary to carry out this work; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what is the Government's policy towards maintenance by the Thames regional flood defence committee of its financial balances; and what account has been taken of the case for a contingency fund to pay for future essential maintenance work.
§ Mr. CurryThe maintenance costs of flood defences which are the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority (NRA), such as the Thames flood defences, are normally funded through levies on local authorities, while capital works may be eligible for grant aid from this Department. In 1989, the Thames region of the NRA inherited substantial financial balances from its predecessor, the Thames Water Authority, in respect of future work on the Thames barrier, and these balances have been the subject of detailed discussions between NRA Thames region and the Government. Public sector bodies such as the NRA do not normally hold financial reserves in anticipation of future expenditure, since public sector accounting rules lay down that funds should not be sought in advance of need. The Government and the NRA therefore agreed that the Thames region balances should be used to fund maintenance and renewal works on the Thames flood defences over the next few years, with a view to running them down no later than March 1997. Thereafter, work on the Thames flood defences will be financed as normal through a combination of levies on local authorities and, where applicable, MAFF grant.
§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the National Rivers Authority's estimate of the likely maintenance cost of the Thames flood defences, including the Thames barrier, at the turn of the century; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe National Rivers Authority estimates that the cost of the recurring annual maintenance of the Thames tidal defences, including the Thames and Barking barriers, at the turn of the century is £3.5 million.