§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the model on flooding on the River Severn being prepared by the Environment Agency. [27005]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 14 January 2002]: Operational responsibility for flood management measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency (EA) and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing.
I understand that the EA's model for the Tidal River Severn downstream of Gloucester has been completed recently. It will be used to develop the Tidal Severn Strategy which the EA plan to publish in summer 2003. The Fluvial River Severn model is being used to develop the Fluvial Severn Strategy which the EA plan to publish in spring 2003.