§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to regulate flows of water in the(a) River Severn, (b) River Derwent, (c) River Ouse, (d) River Aire and (e) River Don. [138560]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 16 November 2000]I have asked the Environment Agency, in conjunction with their partners, to produce a full report on the flooding, its effects, how flood warning and emergency response worked and what lessons we can learn. The Agency will initiate this when the immediate work of dealing with the floods has been completed; the report should be available by Easter. In the meantime there are no new plans for these rivers.
799W
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the river improvement schemes that will be funded from the new money he has announced for the Environment Agency. [138559]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 16 November 2000]The additional funding of £51 million over the next four years is primarily for the Environment Agency, but some may be allocated to local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards as well. A major element of the package is designed to accelerate the programme of river flood defence works. The Ministry is approaching all the operating authorities to establish their plans with a view to determining the content of the enhanced national river works programme.