§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Lewes constituency to inspect those areas which were subject to flooding in 2000 and where no flood defence works have yet been proposed. [167799]
828W
§ The Prime MinisterI have no plans to do so.
Planned expenditure by the Environment Agency on flood risk management in 2005–06 will be 80 per cent. higher than in 2000–01. This increase has and will continue to enable greater protection of communities that are vulnerable to flooding. In the case of Lewes, in at least one area, planning permission has recently been granted for this work and construction should begin this year.