§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to expand the remit of the Environment Agency; [105050]
(2) what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency regarding a more independent status for the organisation. [105052]
§ Mr. MeacherWe intend that the Environment Agency should take responsibility from local authorities and internal drainage boards for all watercourses that present the greatest flood risk. We also intend that the Agency's flood defence functions should be funded by a single stream of DEFRA block grant which will, subject to enactment of the water bill, replace our grants for individual capital schemes and also the levies currently paid by local authorities. The timing of these changes will be announced in due course. The Department has no other plans to change the remit or status of the Agency.