§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money has been allocated to the Greater London flood defences by her Department in each of the last three years. [10274]
§ Mr. MorleyThis Department provides grants for flood defence capital works that satisfy essential criteria but responsibility for all expenditure on flood defences rests with operating authorities, such as the Environment Agency and local authorities. The Environment Agency estimates that its flood defence expenditure in Greater London in the last three years was as follows:
£ million 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Capital 7.0 8.0 8.0 Operational 26.6 32.0 29.4 Other 4.9 4.8 4.6 Total 38.5 44.8 42.0
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to undertake a review of responsibility for flood defence management and funding; and if she will make a statement; [11010]
(2) when she expects to publish the findings of her review of flood and coastal defence funding. [11011]
§ Mr. MorleyThe purpose of the review of flood and coastal defence funding arrangements was to ensure that funds were appropriately sourced and targeted, and delivered effectively and efficiently. Funding and institutional arrangements are inextricably linked. In addition to researching funding options and prioritisation, the review has gone on to consider whether current institutional arrangements were fit for purpose. The conclusions of the review are expected to be published later this autumn. The Government are satisfied that the outcome of this review, and other on-going reviews relating to flood management, will contribute substantially to ensuring a focused, integrated, efficient and effective service.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the additional annual investment that would be required to ensure all flood defences in England and Wales are classified by the National Audit Office as being at least in good condition. [11007]
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§ Mr. MorleyThe National Audit Office's March 2001 report on inland flood defences includes condition ratings for flood defences made by the Environment Agency. These data form part of the input for two recent research projects on the "National Appraisal of Assets at Risk from Flooding" which were commissioned by this Department; the most recent report of this research was published in September. It suggests that investment in capital and maintenance would need to be increased from current levels by between £110 million and £120 million a year to maintain current standards of defence, with a further £30 million a year to improve to indicative standards.