§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will increase the budget of the Environment Agency in Somerset. [10776]
§ Mr. MorleyAllocations for the environmental protection work performed by the Environment Agency are made on a national basis, and not by county. On flood defence, I have recently announced the allocations to flood and coastal defence operating authorities for 2002–03. The capital allocation, on which we are prepared to pay grant, for the Environment Agency in Somerset is £4.4 million (compared with £2.5 million in 2001–02). The rate of grant has been increased by 10 per cent. to 75 per cent.