§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of how many homes flooded(a) in January and (b) in the previous three major floods. [90214]
736Wgrant levels for flood defence throughout England are in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [91171]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra provides grant aid as a percentage of eligible costs to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and internal drainage boards—to assist with capital works and studies to manage flood risk. Grant is also made to the EA to assist towards the cost of national initiatives (such as the national flood and coastal defence database, flood warning public awareness and catchment flood management plans) and in 2001–02 exceptional funding was provided to the EA following the floods of autumn 2000 for emergency response and repair works and feasibility and design costs for accelerated river defences.
2001–02 and 2002–03
Amounts of grant in cash terms were as follows.
§ Mr. MorleyI am advised that 645 houses were flooded during the floods over the New Year holiday. As for previous events, it depends on what the hon. Member defines as a major flood. Floods occur most winters although property flooding is generally avoided. Obviously we are all aware of the autumn 2000 event in which more than 10,000 homes were affected. In addition the 1998 flood remains in most people's memory and in that event more than 4,200 homes were flooded. Prior to that, probably the most notable was the flood event which occurred in September 1968 when large areas of the south west and southern England 737W including south and south east London were flooded. We do not have detailed information on the number of properties that were flooded.