§ Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the tidal surge which hit the Thames Estuary and the North Kent Coast on 29 January, with special reference to the adequacy of the flood defences along the Erith, Crayford and Dartford stretch of the river bank and the risk of the River Thames flooding in this area. [35440]
§ Mr. MorleyA tidal surge occurred on the morning tide of 29 January 2002, which was below the level where the Thames barrier is activated though some of the other estuary barriers were closed. There was no danger to life or property in this event.
The tidal flood defences between Erith and Dartford, along the north Kent coast are inspected and maintained regularly. These defences form part of the overall flood protection system on the tidal Thames, which, with the barriers closed, are designed to provide a high standard of protection against events with a current annual probability of less then 0.1 per cent. ("1 in 1,000 year").