HC Deb 15 October 2001 vol 372 cc1095-6W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the guidance given by(a) DEFRA and (b) the Environment Agency to district councils and county councils to deal with a rise in sea level and flooding as a result of climate change. [7768]

Mr. Morley

The Government have provided specific guidance in relation to predicted sea level rise to all flood and coastal defence authorities since 1989. In December 1999 the guidance was reviewed, and promulgated in Flood and Coastal Defence Project Appraisal Guidance Volume 3–Economic Appraisal (FDPAG3, MAFF Publication PB 4650). In March 2000 guidance on potential changes in river flooding was provided in Flood and Coastal Defence Project Appraisal Guidance Volume 4–Approaches to Risk (FCDPAG4, MAFF Publication PB 4907).

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent and division of Governmental responsibility for flood prevention; and if she will make a statement. [7773]

Mr. Morley

Flood defence is a fully devolved matter. DEFRA has policy responsibility for flood defence in England; the devolved Administrations have responsibility in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Operating authorities are responsible for delivery of the flood defence service in England. The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority and exercises a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence. Following the creation of DEFRA, the Department now has policy responsibility for all of the functions of the Environment Agency in England.

We are currently conducting a review of the funding arrangements in England and this may lead to consideration of the related institutional arrangements for delivering the service.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will announce the conclusions of her review of the effectiveness of the Flood Defence Committee arrangements. [8006]

Mr. Morley

The conclusions of the review of flood and coastal defence funding arrangements will be published later this autumn.