§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has for assisting local authorities with flood prevention; and if he will make a statement. [142065]
§ Mr. MorleyI have been asked to reply.
The Land Drainage Act 1991 gives local authorities permissive powers to undertake flood defence works on ordinary watercourses that are not within the district of an internal drainage board. Under these powers local authorities may build and maintain flood defences and their expenditure on such works is recognised in Standard Spending Assessments. The Ministry offer grant aid to capital flood defence works which satisfy engineering, 159W environmental and economic criteria, and achieve the appropriate priority score. Local authorities will also be able to apply for grant aid for accelerated river flood defence works.
Local authorities have separate responsibilities for dealing with flooding emergencies. For this work they may be eligible for re-imbursement under the Bellwin rules that are administered by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.