§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the report he has commissioned from the Environment Agency into the recent floods in Lewes will consider the workings of the entire river system including the Uck and the Ouse; if he will undertake to fund the recommendations in that report; and if he will make a statement. [136568]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 6 November 2000]: The report I have commissioned will look at the whole Sussex Ouse catchment, including the Uck. It will consider the rainfall/hydrology which caused the flooding, the existing flood defences and the options available to help improve the situation. The report will also link in with the planned Sussex Ouse River strategy, which will consider the management of the Ouse defences in the longer term. Contemplating the strategy will commence in 2001–02 and it is scheduled for completion in 2002–03.
It will be for the Environment Agency to secure funding for any programme of work resulting from these investigations, having regard to available funding and other priorities in the area. MAFF grant is available for any capital works which meet economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. Part of the additional £51 million announced by the Deputy Prime Minister for flood defence measures will be to provide funding for whole catchment area studies.