HC Deb 22 January 2002 vol 378 cc798-9W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has taken(a) to replace and (b) to repair flood defences nationwide that are due to reach the end of their design life over the next decade. [27114]

Mr. Morley

I plan to reduce the risk of flooding by investing in effective flood warning arrangements and in flood and coastal defences in the highest risk areas, and existing flood defences are being repaired, renewed, maintained and improved. As the bulk of expenditure is ultimately met by taxpayers, both DEFRA and the operating authorities have a responsibility to ensure that value for money is obtained when funding works.

This Department provides grants for flood and coastal defence capital works, and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score (based on departmental priorities, urgency and benefit: cost ratio). Further to increases in the last two Spending Reviews, additional funding of £51 million over the four years from 2001–02 was announced in November 2000 following the severe flooding. In all DEFRA flood and coastal defence funding is set to increase from £66 million in 2000–01 to £114 million in 2003–04. Funding for future years will be considered in the Spending Review process Responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities. The operating authority for each area draws on its local knowledge to decide what needs to be done, including the appraisal of design standards within the economic justification of projects.

Mr. Todd

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 6 December 2001,Official Report, column 496W, on flood defence, when the validation will be complete; and whether it will identify when councils completed this task. [27474]

Mr. Morley

A list of local authorities that have provided valid information on their flood defence assets to the Environment Agency has been placed in the Library of the House.

This information was received by the agency in the period to July 2001. Where the agreed programme of inspections requires it, a second round of inspections is under way.

The ability of some local authorities to carry out inspections, and the Environment Agency's ability to receive and assess that information, and to follow up the non-receipt of inspection reports, was severely impaired by the aftermath of the 2000 floods. I have therefore agreed that the agency should provide a fully validated report for the period to March 2002 which covers all inspections to that date, summarises the condition of defences, and sets out the agreed approach to inspections.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she is making in securing adequate flood defences for Lewes. [27537]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 16 January 2002]: Operational responsibility for flood management rests with operating authorities, such as the Environment Agency. The agency has repaired defences in Lewes so that they are largely up to the standard they were before the floods in autumn 2000. The agency is also undertaking a strategic study of the River Ouse catchment with a view to identifying sustainable defence options for Lewes and other towns. I understand that the agency is keeping local interest groups informed of their consideration of defence options. This Department has provided funding for both the emergency repairs and for the strategic study.