§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food arid Rural Affairs when the Environment Agency will(a) commence and (b) complete the feasibility study into the causes and relief of flooding in Salmon's Brook in the Lea Valley; and if she will make a statement. [73022]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Environment Agency plans to commence the Salmons Brook Feasibility Study in August this year and it is expected to be complete in 12 months.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 310W, what evaluation has taken place of the effectiveness of the 301W Environment Agency in identifying the case for investment in flood alleviation measures following the flooding of October 2000; and if she will make a statement. [73012]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Environment Agency's medium term plans for capital works are produced on an annual basis and in both 2001 and 2002 included proposed improvement works for many conurbations affected by the Autumn 2000 flooding. Works are already in progress at some locations, including Bewdley, Shrewsbury, Mahon and Norton, all of which were flooded. The Agency is still investigating the case for other works in areas affected by the 2000 floods. The Department keeps in close touch with the Agency on its plans.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what PSAs have been set for the Environment Agency regarding(a) flood forecasting, (b) flood warning and (c) flood alleviation; and if she will make a statement. [73019]
§ Mr. MorleyPSAs are only set for Government Departments. However, in 1999 DEFRA's Flood Management Division developed a series of High Level Targets which require the Environment Agency to report on flood and coastal defence issues on a regular basis. A copy of these Targets was placed in the House Libraries on 23 November 1999. Documents reporting on performance against individual High Level Targets were also placed in the House Libraries on 24 May 2002
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what time scale is set for the Environment Agency to complete the investment in flood alleviation measures arising from a flooding incident; and if she will make a statement. [73020]
§ Mr. MorleyThere is no set timescale for taking forward work associated with flood alleviation measures as this depends on the severity, duration and complexity of individual flooding events. The Environment Agency routinely investigates all incidents of flooding to determine any lessons learned, and revises its procedures accordingly as well as bringing forward flood alleviation measures if required and justified.