§ David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision she plans to make to(a) the Environment Agency and (b) East Riding of Yorkshire Council to protect properties at risk from flooding.[11963]
§ Mr. MorleyI have recently announced the allocations to flood and coastal defence operating authorities for 2002–03.
The capital allocation, on which we have offered to pay grant, for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire is £19.6 million (compared with £12.5 million in 2001–02). The rate of grant is one of the highest in the country at 65 per cent.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council have indicated that they intend to submit applications for funding for a number of schemes to reduce the risk of coastal erosion, but not to reduce the risk of flooding.