§ Sir Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to spend some of the money for flood relief announced by the Deputy Prime Minister when he visited Upton on Severn on projects in Upton on Severn. [18923]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 29 November 2001]: This Department provides grants for flood and coastal defence capital works, and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. Further to increases in spending plans in the last two spending reviews, additional funding of £51 million over the four years from 2000–01 was announced in November 2000 following the severe flooding last year. An increased priority was given to urban flood defences and the grant rates for all river flood defences were increased by 20 per cent.
Operational responsibility for flood management measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing. The operational authorities are invited to submit applications for DEFRA funding.
In the last 12 months the Agency has installed water gauges to measure the obstructing effects of the redundant railway embankment to the west of Upton. It has invited every property at risk of flooding to be linked to it's telephone flood warning service and it participated in the recent Flood Fair to promote self help protection measures. Upton on Severn is also in the area covered by the Catchment Flood Management Plan being developed for the River Severn. The study is being financed by DEFRA and conclusions are expected by the middle of next year.