§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on new sources of income for flood defence from(a) councils and (b) households in flood-zone areas. [98067]
86W
§ Mr. MorleyDiscussions have been held with the Environment Agency on these and other issues raised in the current Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review. I will make an announcement on the conclusions of the review as soon as possible.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on flood defence work in Sussex in each of the last six years; and if she will list the location of the major projects. [97900]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra provides grant aid to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and (in areas with special drainage needs) internal drainage boards. The EA is responsible for managing flood risk from designated main rivers and the sea and carries out the majority of publicly funded flood risk works. The table details EA expenditure on flood defence work in Sussex over the last six years:
£000 Financial year Capital expenditure Non-capital expenditure Total 1996–97 4,289 1,175 5,464 1997–98 4,315 1,569 5,884 1998–99 3,856 1,185 5,041 1999–2000 3,456 2,021 5,477 2000–01 2,705 1,663 4,368 2001–02 4,134 2,242 6,376 2002–031 9,532 2,094 11,626 1 To December 2002
- The major EA projects are as follows:
- River Lavant Flood Alleviation Scheme (Chichester)
- Bulverhythe Enhancement of Protection
- Shoreham/Lancing Phase 2—Kingswalk
- Felpham Sea Defences
- Pevensey Bay Sea Defences
- West Common Stream (Haywards Heath)
- Seaford Beach Management
- Shoreham/Lancing Phase 3
- Medmerry continued maintenance
- Storrington
- Sovereign Harbour (Eastbourne)
Information on works promoted by the other operating authorities in the area is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities have no plans to hold flood emergency exercises in accordance with her Department's high level targets. [89612]
§ Margaret BeckettOne of our high level targets requires the Environment Agency to arrange a programme of emergency exercises in conjunction with local authorities, emergency services and other partners. A national exercise, and an exercise in each agency region and local area, should be conducted at not more than three-yearly intervals. We are not aware of any local authorities that are not prepared to co-operate.
87W
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 10W, if she will provide a breakdown of expenditure in the years (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 of the Environment Agency in England for managing flood risk from main rivers and the sea in respect of each project worth £1 million or more. [95082]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 3 February 2003]: Defra provides grant aid as a percentage of eligible costs to the Environment Agency to assist with its capital works and related studies to manage flood risk. The agency does not maintain central records of expenditure in the form requested and therefore the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However a table showing agency capital projects costing in excess of £1 million on which grant has been claimed, has been placed in the Library of the House. This does not include expenditure ineligible for grant such as project management costs which can form between 15 per cent. and 25 per cent. of the total project cost. Nor does the list include projects pursued by the agency without Defra grant aid.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters(a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency has received from (i) hon. Members and (ii) members of the public regarding the flooding in the Christmas 2002 and new year period 2003. [96124]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department has received 41 letters from hon. Members and 33 letters from members of the public. The Environment Agency has received 72 letters from hon. Members and 506 letters from members of the public.