§ Sir Peter EmeryTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to ensure that the grant given to the Environment Agency for vital flood defence work will be made available for that purpose. [35942]
§ Mr. MorleyGrant payments to the Environment Agency by this Department for flood defence capital works are made in respect of specific approved schemes so can be used only for that purpose. For approval for grant aid schemes must meet technical, economic and environmental criteria, and achieve an appropriate priority score based on Ministerial priorities, urgency and benefit:cost ratio.