§ Mr. BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what criteria flood defences are graded in terms of being(a) maintained at their current level or (b) in need of enhancement. [54234]
§ Mr. MorleyOperational responsibility for planning, design, construction, maintenance, inspection and operation of flood defence measures rests with local operating authorities (the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards). The operating authorities determine which flood defences should be maintained at their current level and which are in need of enhancement. Efforts are being made to collate such information on a National Flood and Coastal Defence Database.
§ Mr. BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure(a) detailed mapping of areas at risk from flooding, (b) that insurance companies recognise the difference in flood risk within post-code areas and (c) that households are graded in accordance to direct risk. [54236]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Environment Agency has published indicative flood maps and has made these available to local authorities. Copies have recently been made available to Members of Parliament in England and Wales showing the indicative flood risk areas in their constituency. Smaller scale versions are also available to the public via the Internet. The Department is in discussion with the Agency to further develop this mapping and is currently funding work that will improve the information available. Discussions continue with both the Agency and ABI to improve the information available for assessing insurance risk.
§ Mr. BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) homes and (b) commercial properties are at risk from 359W coastal or inland flooding in (i) England, (ii) the South East and (iii) East Sussex; and what the total value of assets are. [54271]
§ Mr. MorleyThe 2001 National Assessment of Assets at Risk from Flooding and Coastal Erosion, commissioned by DEFRA, estimated figures for areas at risk of flooding by regions of the Environment Agency; the Agency have provided a further breakdown for East Sussex.
The estimated figures for the whole of England, for the Southern Region of the Environment Agency and for East Sussex are as follows:
England Southern Region East Sussex Homes at risk of flooding 1,670,000 152,000 23,500 Commercial properties at risk 128,000 14,000 2,100 Estimated total value of assets at risk £200,000m £18,400 m £2,850 m
§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to fund the repairs to flood defence systems identified as Government targets following the Bye report into the 1998 floods. [54637]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government drew up High Level Targets for Flood and Coastal Defence in 1999 in liaison with local operating authorities (the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards). The targets are intended to facilitate a more certain delivery of national policies and objectives for flood and coastal defence. However operational responsibility for planning, design, construction, maintenance, inspection and operation of flood defence measures rests with the local operating authorities.
I understand that the Environment Agency has repaired flood defences damaged in the 1998 floods, has carried out some improvements and is considering other improvements where they meet the normal economic, technical and environmental criteria.
Funding from this Department for capital works to all operating authorities has increased from an outturn of £73 million in 1998–99 to a planned £114 million in 2003–04.
§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if resources will be made available to improve the accuracy of the Environment Agency's maps and website relating to flood risk assessments. [54639]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department is in discussion with the Environment Agency to further develop the indicative flood plain maps, copies of which have recently been made available to Members of Parliament in England and Wales, local authorities and, the general public (via the internet). DEFRA is currently funding work that will improve the data available. More detailed information will be available (as hardcopy and via the internet) in the Autumn.