Flooding (Hansard, 7 January 2003)

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flooding studies were conducted by the Environment Agency in 1999; and of these studies, what recommended work(a) has been carried out and (b) remains to be carried out. [86986]

§ Mr. Morley
I understand that the Environment Agency conducted 262 flood defence feasibility studies during the 1999–2000 financial year. 166 works have been completed; 24 are under construction; 44 are to be carried out in the future and 28 were found to be unjustified.
situated on the floodplain. People must remember that the insurance industry is a competitive one and they may benefit from 'shopping around'
The nature of the risk in undefended areas means that insurers cannot guarantee to maintain cover, but will examine the risks on a case by case basis, use their best efforts to continue to provide cover and will work with the owners of domestic properties and small businesses which they currently insure to see what action could be taken by the property owner, the Environment Agency and the local authority, which might make the property 87W insurable in some form. This action might include the use of accredited products, flood resilient materials and temporary defences to defend the property.

§ Mr. Hendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which of the areas affected by flooding in autumn 2000 the Government is recommending the removal of buildings on the flood plains. [88997]

§ Mr. Morley
Defra provides grant to local operating authorities for flood defence capital works that meet certain criteria. However responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities.
The information requested is not readily available from all operating authorities. The Environment Agency advise that they are not aware of any specific proposals, following the autumn 2000 floods, to buy properties in the floodplain and remove them as the solution to flooding.
However, some flood protection schemes involve property acquisition to allow defences to be built, and in some areas where effective flood alleviation is difficult then the long term solution may be relocation outside the flood risk area as buildings reach the end of their useful life.