§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make available extra moneys for river dredging flood defence works in East Sussex. [137545]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 14 November 2000]Additional funding of £51 million over four years has already been announced for, inter alia, an accelerated programme of river flood defence capital works in798W England. The Environment Agency's staff in East Sussex are reviewing options for flood defence of communities on East Sussex rivers in the light of experience of the recent floods. They plan to meet local residents in the near future to explain those options. It is therefore too early to say what plans there are for river dredging flood defence works in East Sussex, whether it would be effective, or the extent to which such work would attract funding from this Department.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to strengthen and enhance the flood defences at York. [138545]
§ Mr. MorleyI understand that the flood defences at York have operated to their design standard or better in the recent flooding. The Environment Agency will be checking the necessity for urgent repairs and reviewing the need for strengthening and enhancing the defences once the immediate work of dealing with the floods is completed. No doubt they will consider if advantage can be taken of the Government's additional funding over the next four years, a major element of which is aimed at accelerating the programme of river flood defence works.