§ Dr. CableTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the allocation of statutory responsibilities for flood defence management in the(a) south-eastern and (b) eastern regions of England; and what plans he has to rieview flood defence management structures; [155607]
(2) what plans he has to review the funding of flood defence bodies in the (a) south-ear tern and (b) eastern regions of England. [155593]
§ Mr. MorleyThroughout England MAFF has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence while operational responsibility falls to the "operating authorities"; the Environment Agency, internal drainage boards and local authorities.
The Environment Agency has a statutory supervisory duty over all matters relating to flood defence and has permissive powers to undertake sea defence works and works on designated main rivers. Internal Drainage Boards have permissive powers to undertake works on ordinary watercourses within their districts while local authorities have similar powers on ordinary watercourses outside those districts. Where defences are privately 780W owned, responsibility rests with the riparian owner. Finally, maritime local authorities have coast protection powers and may also undertake sea defence works.
A review of the funding arrangements for flood and coastal defence is currently under way and is due to report by September 2001. It is possible that the outcome of that review, and of a separate financial management and policy review of the Environment Agency which is also being undertaken, could give rise to the need to adjust the present institutional arrangements.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to compensate landowners for work carried out on their land to maintain and establish flood defences in(a) Norfolk, (b) Suffolk,(c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Bedfordshire, (e) Hertfordshire, (f) Essex and (g) each London borough in (i) 1995–96,(ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98, (iv) 1998–99, (v) 1999–2000,(vi) 2000–01 and (vii) 2001–02. [155610]
§ Mr. MorleyMinistry grants are available to operating authorities but not to private landowners. However, operating authorities may compensate landowners in certain circumstances when undertaking flood defence works. Where such compensation is regarded as a necessary part of grant aided works, Ministry grant is paid towards the compensation costs.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much was provided for flood control to each of those local authorities affected by floods in 2000; [155606]
(2) how much was provided for flood control to (a) Norfolk, (b) Suffolk, (c) Cambridgeshire,(d) Bedfordshire, (e) Hertfordshire, (f) Essex and (g) each London borough in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97,(iii) 1997–98, (iv) 1998–99, (v) 1999–2000, (vi) 2000–01 and will be provided for in (vii) 2001–02, (viii) 2002–03 and (ix) 2003–04; [155614]
(3) what plans he has to offer compensation for flood defence works carried out by county and district councils and internal drainage boards in (a) Norfolk, (b) Suffolk, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Bedfordshire, (e) Hertfordshire, (f) Essex and (g) each London borough; [155609]
(4) what percentage of funding for flood defence management in (a) Norfolk, (b) Suffolk, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Bedfordshire, (e) Hertfordshire, (f) Essex and (g) each London borough was grant specific in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98, (iv) 1998-99, (v) 1999-2000, (vi) 2000-01 and will be in (vii) 2001–02, (viii) 2002–03 and (ix) 2003–04. [155608]
§ Mr. MorleyLocal authorities' expenditure on flood defence falls into three categories: the levy they pay to the Environment Agency, special levies paid to internal drainage boards, and the local authority's own expenditure on flood defence works. Government support for local authority expenditure on flood defence is allocated through the flood defence standard spending assessment (SSA), and distributed as revenue support grant (RSG). RSG is not ring-fenced, as it is one of the key principles of the local government finance systems that local authorities should be able to decide how to allocate their own, and their own taxpayers', money, taking account of statutory requirements and local circumstances. These decisions will reflect each authority's policies for which it is accountable 781W to local people. The SSAs for the local authorities and years specified, is set out in a table which is available in the Libraries of the House.
The Ministry provides grants (and Supplementary Credit Approvals to local authorities) rather than compensation to the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards for flood defence capital works that meet economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. Responsibility for decisions on which works to promote and their timing rests with those operating authorities. Information on specific Ministry flood defence grants is not readily available in the form requested and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
Many local authorities incurred costs in responding to flood emergencies in 2000. Eligible costs may be refunded by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions under a Bellwin scheme. To date 14 local authorities have received a total of £3.8 million under the Bellwin arrangements. These are as follows:
£ Bridgenorth 19,300 Canterbury 51,800 East Sussex 187,200 Elmbridge 65,587 Lewes 179,500 Maidstone 182,767 Newark and Sherwood 8,361 Shropshire 380,000 Tonbridge and Mailing 59,026 Wealden 44,887 West Sussex 1,841,600 Woking 129,195 Wyre 19,229 City of York 708,060 Total 3,876,512 With the exception of Netwark and Sherwood, which has been paid in full, all are interim payments of 80 per cent. of the total claim. The balance will be paid on the basis of audited accounts. Claims from other local authorities are expected.