§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will report on the outcome of the Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review; and if she will make a statement. [36858]
§ Mr. MorleyI am pleased to announce that the report "Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review—Report to Ministers by the Review Steering Group" has been published today along with a consultation document seeking views on the steering group's recommendations and conclusions and how these might be taken forward. I am placing copies in the Library of the House.
The steering group's report assessed a number of options for change including additional sources of funding and a broad-based regional model to provide a single funding stream. Suggestions for short-term changes include giving the Environment Agency responsibility for all watercourses that present a significant flood risk and on combining and consolidating capital grant and revenue support grant to the agency, possibly in the form of central grant allocations.
Elsewhere, the report recommends continued reliance on the existing flood management strategic framework to monitor achievement of the Government's policies and priorities.
The Government have agreed to consult on the recommendations in the report. This provides a unique opportunity to consider provision of the flood and coastal defence service from first principles and I look forward to receiving the views of interested parties. I will keep Parliament informed of developments.